Chase Colston

Seriously, whoever offended Mother Nature needs to apologize.

Now.

She’s still on a roll.

Play was delayed, scores were up and mosquitoes the size of small birds were out in full force Saturday in the third round of the Texas State Open.

A tough Cascades course was even harder, and you didn’t have to look farther than the last group to realize just how hard the 18 holes played.

“The bunkers were wet; the rough was high and wet. It was just a struggle,” said Matt Loving, whose 1-over 71 left him two behind playing partner and leader Adam Crawford.

“It was just a struggle out there.”

Fortunately for Loving and Crawford, they were not forced to play in the rain, but they sure felt the effects it left.

Loving had problems with his short game all round, unable to get his approach shots as close as needed and found trouble adjusting to wet greens.

Frankly, it was a miracle the two shot as well as they did. Loving had to fight for his life to get to 1 over after bogeys on three of his first four holes. After making 34 of 36 greens in regulation over the first two rounds, he missed five in a row at one point in the third.

“You’re going to have these rounds,” Loving said. “You just can’t shoot yourself out of the tournament, and I didn’t do that.”

The Cascades, almost acting defiant, was the winner this time around. It stretched Loving and Crawford, who broke the course record on back-to-back days, to the limits.

“I found it more difficult on the fairways,” Crawford said. “When water gets between the club head and the ball, the ball can shoot off anywhere.”

It was hard to believe — not discrediting the players, but more credit to the conditions and the course — that these two guys mastered such a course over the past two days.

Loving’s course record of an 8-under 62 Thursday lasted a little more than 24 hours before Crawford drained a long birdie putt on No. 9, pretty much in the dark, to finish with a 9-under 61 on the second day.

When either one missed the fairway, they paid for it. I could hear Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” in my head every time Crawford or Loving was in the rough.

When they left their chips or putts short, the greens were scarier than before. Par is always a good thing, but it was appreciated more than ever Saturday.

Perhaps it’s a conspiracy … the golf course and Mother Nature working together to make life miserable for the players and everyone watching. I can’t let it go, I know, but those mosquitoes were huge!

The Cascades began to give a little — despite still being wet — to the day’s starting leaders on the back nine.

The duo combined for a 67 on the back, compared to a 73 on the front (Loving had a 3-over 38). Loving birdied 10, 16 and 18 to stay within two of Crawford at the end of the day.

Both drained a pair of 30-foot putts on the par 3 16th, and while Loving needed Crawford to settle for par, the Australian used his partner’s putt line to his advantage.

“I got a great read off Matt’s putt,” said Crawford, who like Loving, perfectly read a sloping break to the left and back down to the right to find the hole.

The weather looks nice for Sunday, but who can believe forecasts these days or trust Texas weather. But no one is hoping for good conditions more than Loving, who remained confident in his position and ability to win the tournament.

“The last thing I need is a rainout,” Loving said. “I’m not leading.”

Chase Colston
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