Playing out of the eighth-to-last twosome, World No. 176 Kristoffer Ventura tossed up a 6-under-par 30-36=66 on Day 3 of the Safeway Open to reach 15-under 201, up eight spots to T4, one back of three players at the top.
The 25-year-old is vying for his first TOUR title in 21 events and will play out of the penultimate twosome in R4 with Cameron Percy, who’s also chasing his first TOUR win. His best finish is T18 at last season’s Shriners back in October (T15 after 54 holes), and this is his first time in the top 10 at the three-quarter pole. On seven (of 14) fairways and 16 greens in regulation, the Oklahoma State alum outflanked two bogeys at 13 and 15, with six circles at 1, 3, 6, 8, 11 and 18, and a hole-out eagle-3 at 9 from 77'5" away. He recorded 2.578 SG: Putting with 27 total putts, converting six scoring chances from between 10 and 23 feet.