PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Eric Cole was not happy with the way he hit the ball from tee to green during Friday’s second round of the Genesis Invitational, so he headed to the range following his 18 holes and got to work.
It paid off on Saturday.
Cole, the Tequesta resident and PGA Tour’s 2023 rookie of the year, not only fired a 6-under 65 — which equals the low round of the day — but he was first in the field in strokes gained: tee to green for the day when he finished his round.
“Got some things dialed in,” said Cole, who enters Sunday at 6-under for the tournament. “It was definitely better today. Made a couple of putts on top of that.”
Cole has improved each day at Riviera Country Club with scores of 73, 69, 65 which puts him tied for 15th, eight strokes behind leader Patrick Cantlay of Jupiter. And those putts: How about 27 feet on No. 7, 10 feet on No. 11, and 8 feet on the fifth and sixth holes, all for birdie. He also saved par with a 13-footer on the 13th.
Cole’s only blemish on a card in which he had seven birdies was a bogey at No. 2.