GOLF

Steve Stricker one shot back from leader Steve Flesch at AmFam Championship

Milwaukee

MADISON – A roar climbed over the treetops at University Ridge Golf Course, emanating from the 16th green when Steve Stricker chipped in for eagle and into a tie for the lead at the American Family Insurance Championship. But at the end of play it was Steve Flesch alone at the top as he poured in a long birdie on the 18th for 11-under in the tournament, giving him a one-shot advantage over Stricker, Billy Andrade and Duffy Waldorf.

The players in the afternoon managed to take advantage of the golf course despite gusting winds, led by Flesch and his round of 7-under 65.

“I think I was getting a little too worked up putting pressure on myself,” said Flesch, who spent last week working for FOX and following Brooks Koepka at the U.S. Open. “He looks like he’s not trying and he’s winning majors. I just kind of took a little bit of that and said, you know what, let’s just play golf, you’ve done this your whole life, and for two days it’s been working out well.”

Stricker shot a 5-under 67, one of 14 players to shoot that score or better Saturday. It could have been much more, as he left a birdie try short on No. 17 and watched another chance at birdie slide just by the hole at 18.

But, he will be in the tournament’s final group with a chance to bring home a trophy.

“I’m in position to win this (Sunday) and that’s a good feeling,” Stricker said. “There’s a lot of guys bunched up there, though. I imagine somebody’s going to come out of that pack with a good round, shoot a good round (Sunday) and that means that’s what I’m going to have to do if I want to have a chance to win.”

Among that bunch of players is Jerry Kelly, who set the pace on Friday with a 65 of his own to take the first-round lead. He followed that up with a 2-under 70 to give himself an opportunity at his first victory since early 2018. He is one of three players two shots back at 9-under.

“I’m going to be champing at the bit, there’s no doubt about it,” Kelly said. “You know, one of these times it’s going to happen and, you know, will it be here in Wisconsin, that would be awesome.”

The whipping winds portend poor weather on Sunday, so tournament officials moved up the start of the final round to 7:15 a.m. Flesch, Stricker and Andrade will head off the first tee box at approximately 9:15 a.m.

It’s an earlier start than normal to adjust to, but there is a group of 18 players within five shots of Flesch. It may sound like long odds – but not for those who may be able to get out before any poor weather.

“I had a good run at it last year so trying to do the same again (Sunday),” said Colin Montgomerie, part of a group of eight at 6-under. “The weather is to be inclement, we’re starting at 7:15 in the morning to get it all in. (It’s) the number. The number, yeah. The weather’s to be inclement, so you just don’t know how it’s going to be. Sixty-five to get to 13 would be good.”

Defending champion Scott McCarron agreed after shooting a round of 5-under to join that group with Montgomerie right at five off the lead.

“Within about five – if I can get within five I think that I still have a chance,” McCarron said. “Then you can go shoot 63, 64. Like I did last year, I shot 64 to win. If I can be within five shots of the lead then I think that’s a chance.”

Notable names lurking include two-time major champions Retief Goosen (9-under) and John Daly (7-under), along with Woody Austin (8-under) and 2016 tournament champion Kirk Triplett (7-under).

“This tour is all about making birdies and playing great golf ‘cause everybody that’s up near the lead, they’re all experienced golfers and they’ve all won and they’re all great players,” Andrade said. “When you have the opportunities you’ve got to make them if you’re going to win.”