PROVO — It was just last month that Jordan Rodgers dominated at the Utah State Amateur, tying for medalist honors before winning six matches, several in convincing fashion on his way to the prestigious title.
Now he’s doing something similar as a professional at the Siegfried & Jensen Utah Open.
Rodgers, who turned pro shortly after winning the State Am, shot a 7-under-par 65 Saturday after a 64 the day before and takes a one-stroke lead over former champion Nathan Lashley into Sunday’s final round at Riverside Country Club.
The 25-year-old from Salt Lake City, who just graduated from BYU in the spring, put together another near-flawless round and stands at 129 after 36 holes, which is among the lowest 36-hole scores in Utah Open history.
Rodgers and Lashley will duel it out Sunday afternoon in the final group along with former PGA Tour winner Chris Riley of San Diego, who stands at 133 after a 68 on Saturday. Also at 133 is former USC golfer Martin Trainer, who shot 67.
Two golfers, Riverside assistant pro Chris Moody and ex-BYU golfer Justin Keiley, stand five shots back at 134, while four golfers, St. George’s Nick Killpack, Arizona’s Jesse Mueller, Boise’s Taeksoo Kim and Jimmy Gunn of Dornoch, Scotland, stand at 135.
“My goal was not to make any bogeys today,’’ said Rodgers, who made seven birdies and 11 pars. “I didn’t hit it quite as pure today but I made some long putts and some good par-saving putts.’’
Rodgers has been eyeing the Utah Open and the $21,000 first prize ever since he turned professional. He missed the cut in his first event at the Colorado Open in mid-July, but ever since his game has taken off.
He finished as the low pro at the Salt Lake City Open two weeks ago and pocketed the $3,000 first prize and then finished fourth at the Rocky Mountain Open last weekend in Colorado where he won $2,500.
He said he doesn’t feel any different playing as a pro, saying he might feel different if he was going for a $1.5 million first prize on the PGA Tour. Like he did at the Utah Amateur, Rodgers is trying to have fun and “enjoy myself,’’ while trying to make birdies.
“I’m excited about tomorrow,’’ he said. “I’ll try to take advantage of the par-5s and keep my putter going and I’ll be right there with a chance to win the tournament.’’
It won’t be easy with Lashley to contend with. Lashley won the Utah Open in 2009 in his first try, finished second the following year by a shot and contended until the final round and came in 15th in 2011. Last year, he led by four shots going into the final round, but lost in a playoff to B.J. Staten.
“It’s good, I’ve got a chance to win,’’ he said after finishing up with his 67. “I need to make my putts tomorrow — I didn’t make enough last year.’’
Lashley had a remarkable streak broken Saturday when he bogeyed the par-5 15th hole when he couldn’t get out of a poor lie in a greenside bunker. It’s the only bogey he’s made in five rounds at Riverside over the past two years.
A birdie there would have put him in a tie with Rodgers at 15-under, but he recovered with a birdie at 17 when he rolled in a 12-footer.
Rodgers started on the back nine and picked up a couple of birdies at 13 and 17 after making par-saving putts at 10 and 11. Then on his back nine, he birdied the first three holes with a 30-footer at 1 and a 20-footer at 3 and added birds at the par-5 5th and 7th holes, the latter with a 15-footer.
GOLF NOTES: The cut came at 145 with 63 golfers surviving. … Among those missing the cut were former champions Pete Stone (146), Mike Malaska (148), Kim Thompson (149), Jerry Sneve (149) and former State Am champs Dan Horner (146) and Jon Wright (150). … Mike Grob of Billings, Mont., won the two-day senior sidebar first prize of $800 at 140, two shots ahead of former PGA regulars Mike Reid and Keith Clearwater, who both came in at 142. … JT Timmons is the low amateur at 138 after a pair of 68s.