Hoey cards 68, eyes Top 10 finish at CJ Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Rico Hoey showcased remarkable consistency at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, turning in a 68 on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) to maintain his stronghold in the Top 25 heading into the final round at the TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

With a 54-hole aggregate of 12-under 201, the ICTSI-backed Filipino-American sits in a tie for 22nd place. Thanks to a steady three-day run of 67, 66 and 68, Hoey remains firmly in position to achieve his goal, sitting just three strokes away from a coveted Top 10 finish.

Korean Si Woo Kim cooled off slightly after his scorching opening rounds of 64 and 60, settling for a 68 at the par-71 course and keeping him atop the stellar leaderboard for the third consecutive day with a 21-under 192 total.

However, a heavyweight chase pack is breathing down his neck. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made a definitive "Moving Day" surge with a 65 to join Wyndham Clark, who also carded a six-under round, at second with 194 – just two strokes off the lead and well within striking distance for Sunday's finale.

Hoey birdied No. 10 where he teed off, sticking a brilliant 191-yard approach to within three feet. After a missed 15-foot birdie opportunity on the 12th, he took advantage of the reachable, 312-yard par-4 No. 14, tapping in for another birdie. Following regulation pars on the next two holes, a narrow miss on a 12-foot birdie putt on the 17th saw him turn with a 33.

Hoey encountered a brief lull on his second nine, missing a 12-foot birdie try on the fourth hole. He quickly bounced back on the fifth, draining a six-footer for birdie, but suffered his lone blemish on the par-3 seventh after failing to get up-and-down from the left-side bunker, resulting in a missed 13-foot par putt.

Undeterred, Hoey scrambled for par on the eighth, then capped his day by dominating the par-5 ninth, hitting a crisp approach and sinking a five-foot birdie putt to seal a backnine 35.

With a crowded leaderboard and low scores expected on Sunday, Hoey’s reliable consistency gives him a legitimate shot to vault into the Top 10 if he can master the torrid scoring conditions in the final 18 holes.

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