RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico 鈥 Local
The 32-year-old from San Juan followed a birdie on the par-4 17th with a bogey on the par-5 18th to drop into a tie for the lead with Grayson Murray at 14-under 202.
鈥淚 know there鈥檚 a lot of things that can basically change my life tomorrow,鈥 Campos said. 鈥淏ut truth is, I鈥檓 just really happy. I have been playing good golf the last two weeks, and I really want to keep that mindset of the work I have been putting in the last four months, I鈥檓 starting to see good results.
鈥淚 think I will just focus on that, focus on playing the golf course the way I know how to play it, be aggressive when I have to be aggressive, and be conservative when I obviously don鈥檛 feel comfortable. So, yeah, I really don鈥檛 want to think about tomorrow. I just want to go out and hopefully play some good golf.鈥
Murray bogeyed 17 and birdied 18 in a 65. Cameron Percy (67) and Branden Grace (68) were a stroke back.
Roger Sloan of Merritt, B.C. leads all Canadians after shooting a 71 to put him in a tie for 22nd place. Richmond Hill native Taylor Pendrith shot a 72 to end his day in a tie for 32nd. Michael Gilgic of Burlington, Ont., is in a tie for 68th (74).
Play was delayed three times for about an hour total in the afternoon because of the short, heavy downpours. With expected heavy rain overnight and into the morning, the final round will feature threesomes off split tees.
Campos has two top-10 finishes in the event, tying for eighth in 2016 and tying for 10th in 2017. After missing the cuts in seven of eight events to start the PGA Tour season, he tied for seventh last week in Florida's in a Korn Ferry Tour event. In 2019, he won the Bahamas Great Abaco Classic to become the first Puerto Rican in Korn Ferry Tour history.
The former Virginia Commonwealth player played the front nine in 3 under, with birdies on the par-5 second, par-4 third and par-5 fifth. He also birdied the par-4 10th and 12th.
鈥淚 felt today I hit the ball very well, with the exception of the last couple of holes,鈥 Compos said. 鈥淏ut I鈥檓 really happy with where I鈥檓 standing right now, and I really think can鈥檛 be in a better position basically for tomorrow. Hopefully, just kind of keep doing the same thing we鈥檙e doing. I really feel comfortable with my swing.鈥
He won't get to play in front of many of his fans Sunday because of coronavirus restrictions.
鈥淚t feels very weird only seeing them for like three holes out of 18 holes,鈥 Campos said. 鈥淪o I got my mom, I got my wife, I got family supporting me. So that鈥檚 all I really need right now. And, obviously, I feel the great positive energy the fans actually give me, either text messages or out hereon the course.鈥
The tournament is being played opposite the World Golf Championship event in Florida. The winner will get into the PGA Championship in May but not the Masters in April.
Murray won the 2017 Barbasol Championship, also played opposite a WGC event, for the 27-year-old former Arizona State player's lone tour title.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long time since I have been in a situation like this, but I鈥檓 not afraid of the moment,鈥 Murray said. 鈥淎nd at the end of the day, you still got to play good golf, no matter 鈥 no matter who鈥檚 chasing you or who I鈥檓 chasing.鈥
He birdied five of the first nine holes.
鈥淚 had the putter rolling and just kind of kept it rolling throughout the round,鈥 Murray said. 鈥淲e had to stop and start. We were a little unfortunate, but they were quick. And the PGA Tour did a good job of kind of keeping us out there and not bringing us in each time.鈥
Second-round leader Brandon Wu (71) was 12 under with Andrew Putnam (67) and Nelson Ledesma (68).
鈥淗ad to scramble a little bit harder today,鈥 Wu said. "I think it was playing tougher, the start and the stop, the rain, crazy conditions."
The Associated Press