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David Lingmerth hunts wire-to-wire victory at Quicken Loans National

By Brandon Raper

POTOMAC, MD - JULY 01: David Lingmerth of Sweden plays his shot from the eighth tee during the third round of the Quicken Loans National on July 1, 2017 TPC Potomac in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
POTOMAC, MD - JULY 01: David Lingmerth of Sweden plays his shot from the eighth tee during the third round of the Quicken Loans National on July 1, 2017 TPC Potomac in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Despite stormy conditions at TPC Potomac, David Lingmerth maintained his lead at the Quicken Loans National on Saturday

David Lingmerth put on a clinic through the first two rounds of the PGA TOUR‘s Quicken Loans National. Back-to-back rounds of 5-under 65 had him two clear of the field and seemingly on cruise control.

Saturday’s story was different, but the result the same, as Lingmerth clings to a one-shot lead headed into Sunday’s finale.

Conditions at TPC Potomac have been tough all week, but Saturday was borderline unbearable. Temperatures reached the mid-90s, and heavy storms forced play to a halt for an hour and a half. Although several players scored well – Spencer Levin’s 65 moved him up 20 spots to third – none of the top ten at the start of the day were able to break par.

For the first two days, Lingmerth separated himself from the field with deadly accuracy. Hitting 22 of 28 fairways and 26 of 36 greens will do that. The wind and rain conspired against the 29-year-old Swede on Saturday, as he hit just six fairways and nine greens in regulation. He saved par from the sand four times, but a trio of bogeys – and one brutal double – proved too much for Lingmerth to post a third consecutive red number.

Lingmerth leaning on experience to carry through at TPC Potomac

Lingmerth does have one thing to lean on that most players don’t this week. He’s won at TPC

David Lingmerth Quicken Loans National
POTOMAC, MD – JULY 01: David Lingmerth of Sweden reacts after putting for par on the eighth green during the third round of the Quicken Loans National on July 1, 2017 TPC Potomac in Potomac, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Potomac before. It wasn’t even that long ago.

That’s because, five years ago, Lingmerth was working his way through the Web.com Tour ranks. In 2012, newly-redesigned TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm hosted the Neediest Kids Championship. There, he went 66-66-74-66 for his first career victory. Could he lean on that experience to bounce back on Sunday?

“I don’t know if it’s comforting or not,” Lingmerth said of the mirrored scores. “But I know I can play well out here.”

Lingmerth has been playing solid golf lately, with four top-25 finishes in his last six starts. Combine that form with history and a little bit of luck on Sunday, and the timing could be right to convert on his second PGA Tour victory.

Next: Fred Couples: Aches, pains, and victories

Final round play at the Quicken Loans National begins Sunday at 8:25am ET. PGA TOUR LIVE begins streaming coverage at 11am and CBS begins television coverage at 3pm ET. Lingmerth and Daniel Summerhays, playing in the final group, tee off at 2:05pm ET.

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