Broussard leads TSO

Published 11:17 pm Saturday, August 2, 2014

LEWISVILLE — The wind picked up and the pins were tucked but nothing seems to bother Anthony Broussard of Addison as he continued his torrid scoring Saturday at the 44th Bright Realty Texas State Open.

The former University of North Texas golfer fired a 5-under 67 to take a commanding seven-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round. Broussard carded an eagle and five birdies against two bogeys for his round that followed rounds of 64 and 65 the first two days for a 54-hole total of 196 — 19 under par on The Lakes at Castle Hill course that measures more than 7,200 yards.

Broussard’s closest pursuer is Rafael Becker of Dallas who had the day’s lowest score, a 65, to find himself with a 203 after three rounds, 12 under par.

The two East Texans who made the 36-hole cut to play the weekend, Cody Massa of Tyler and Stetson McMillan of Nacogdoches, find themselves tied for 37th and 42nd, respectively after rounds of 71 and 75. Massa owns a 212 total while McMillan is at 213.

“I had six birdies and five bogeys,” Massa said. “When I missed greens today it was in a bad spot and I couldn’t get up and down. But the pins were harder today and the wind picked up.”

McMillan, a 24-year-old pro who played his high school golf at Lindale while growing up at Hide-A-Way Lake, said his ball striking and putting both let him down on Saturday as he tried to build on two solid rounds of 67 and 71.

“I just struggled all day with my ball striking and then couldn’t get the putter going to make up for it,” McMillan said. “I will just try to go out tomorrow and play well so that I can move up the board.”

Broussard certainly didn’t struggle and is not sure why he is playing so well this week but will try not to think about that as he tries to put away a win that could change the trajectory of his pro career.

“I have just played well in all areas,” Broussard said. “I have driven it well and hit the irons well and then made some putts. This course suits my eye and I have played it enough now to know where to miss it on each hole.

“But I don’t plan to change anything for tomorrow because I know what these guys are capable of shooting. I want to keep the pedal to metal.”

Broussard qualified and played in the U.S. Open earlier this summer, missing the cut at Pinehurst No. 2 by several shots with a 36-hole total of 150, five more than was necessary to play the weekend.

The Lakes at Castle Hills has played easier than in previous years because of heavy rains on Wednesday night that softened the course. Those rains actually forced the tournament to play a par-4 as a par-3 on Thursday so that par for 54 holes is 215 rather than 216,

Play today will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the leaders scheduled to tee off at 12:51 p.m.