The radio commentator watched from just inside the ropes as Jeff Overton birdied No. 7, extending his lead over playing partner Tom Pernice Jr. to two strokes.
“What a rebound!” the commentator exclaimed as the gallery applauded, a reference to the bogey Overton had recorded on the previous hole.
The commentator had no idea what was about to transpire over the next three hours at Congressional Country Club.
After rounding out the front nine at 10 under, Overton capsized, bogeying Nos. 10 and 14 and recording a double bogey on 15. The 25-year-old, who began the day atop the leader board with Pernice, then rattled off two straight birdies and just missed another on 18, finishing strong and saving face at 8 under.
“It was fun,” said Overton, who finished the round in a three-way tie for third. “It was definitely challenging out there.”
The two-time All American from Indiana started strong Saturday, rising up from 9 under to 10 under twice and building a formidable lead as he and Pernice dueled in the afternoon sun. He looked confident after his birdie on No. 3 and unfazed after his slip-up on six.
Then came the fall. He failed to hit the fairway on 14 and badly overshot on 15, landing in a grove of trees behind the green. His chip shot caught the tall rough, and if not for a fortunate roll on his next shot, things could have gotten worse. He tapped in for double bogey and emerged on the 16th tee at 6 under.
“I maybe let the nerves get in the way a little bit out there,” Overton said. “I had it right there in the palm of my hand and didn’t quite just squeeze it.”
Then came a rebound that would have made Calbert Cheaney, Overton’s all-time favorite Hoosiers player, proud. He sank a seven-footer for birdie on the next hole and then broke out his driver on 17 for a 339-yard drive.
“I had a little confidence back on 17, and I had been hitting a driver well all day,” said Overton, who hit all but two fairways Saturday. “It was a fun shot and I think the crowd liked it too.”
Overton followed with another 339-yarder off the tee on 18 and put himself in prime position for a third consecutive birdie with a savvy shot from 123 yards out to reach the green. But Overton overpowered his putt and missed the hole before tapping in for par.
“I was really hoping I was going to get that last one after I hit that down there,” Overton said. “I learned a lot of stuff today, and hopefully I’ll go out there and take what we learned and ride that wave tomorrow.”
Just two strokes from the lead, Overton knows he’s fortunate to be still playing in the surf after his mid-round wipeout.
“We’re right there back in it,” Overton said. “I just have to have a low round tomorrow, and I’ll be right in there.”
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