Rain and an early charge by Henrik Stenson didn’t bother Jason Day as he plodded his way around damp Bay Hill Saturday and maintained his two-shot lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Day is 15-under par after posting a 70 in the rain and he’ll start the final round two shots in front of Stenson, Troy Merritt and Kevin Chappell.
“At times it got pretty heavy,” Day said of the rain. “The wind was tricky as well and the temperature change was huge. To get off the golf course at two-under par was nice. I just need to stay patient out there. More patience tomorrow.”
Stenson made an early run at Day on the front nine with birdies at the fourth and fifth holes then he hit the par five sixth in two and holed a 12-footer for eagle that got him to 15-under. On the next hole, however, Stenson buried his tee shot in the greenside bunker and took bogey at the par three seventh. Another bogey on the back nine left him in a group of three with Merritt and Chappell.
Of the three closest to Day, Merritt and Chappell won’t strike much fear into the world’s No. 3. Merritt has one win and Chappell is still looking for his first. Both, however, shot the low rounds of the day, 67s.
Day had a couple of hiccups in his round. On the second hole, he hit his approach shot in a greenside bunker and a less-than-stellar bunker shot left him with 15 feet for his par. He missed and made four. At the par four 11th, his second shot to the par four found the water and resulted in his second bogey.
Birdies on the front nine at four, six and eight got him to two-under at the turn then he made a great second shot from a fairway bunker at the par five 16th to set up a two-putt birdie.
Justin Rose was stuck in neutral most of the day. He shot 71 and at 11-under par, will start the final round where he started the third, four shots back of the leader.
Disappointment of the day was Rory McIlroy. After bouncing back with a 67 on Friday, the world’s No. 2 came up with another 75 and found himself at one-over par.
