AVONDALE, La. – Ben Martin produced 16 birdies and an eagle over his first 36 holes at the Zurich Classic.
He managed only one birdie Saturday as he saw his lead disappear at TPC Louisiana.
Martin failed to make a putt longer than 5 feet and went from three shots ahead to four behind heading into the final round.
“My game feels as good as it has all week,” he said Saturday. “The results just weren’t there.”
Martin, who shot 73, was the only player in the top 40 to post an over-par score in the third round.
This was the second week in a row that the 26-year-old entered the weekend with at least a share of the lead. Last week at the Heritage, he went 71-67 over the final two rounds to tie for third.
On Saturday, he hit 13 of his last 14 greens, but he also took 33 swipes with the putter – or 10 more than during his opening, course-record 62.
“My mindset in this game is to let it happen,” he said. “Some days, it never happens.”