BROUSSARD — Roberto Diaz is only 18 holes away from his first professional win.
The 34-year-old carded a bogey-free 7-under 64 during Saturday’s third round of the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by MISTRAS.
Diaz leads Peter Uihlein by two strokes entering the final round at Le Triomphe Golf & Country Club.
Diaz turned in 3-under 33 after birdieing the three par-5s on the front nine. He collected two more at Nos. 11 and 12 before almost acing the par-3 16th. After tapping in, he added one more birdie from 11 feet at the par-4 17th to cap the round.
The 64 was Diaz’ lowest since a 64 last July at the TPC San Antonio Challenge at the Canyons.
“It was a very good round, but as I told you guys yesterday, there’s a lot of golf left,” Diaz said. “I’ve been in this position once in my life that I really messed it up and I really don’t want to think about it.”
Diaz credited his turnaround this week to a new outlook on golf. Part of that outlook stems from the birth of his first child in December but also from experience caddying for his friend Abraham Ancer at the World Golf Championships-Workday Championship at The Concession.
“I think caddying for Abe really helped me out,” Diaz said. I think that week was more helpful than I thought. I see a lot of joy when he plays and that got me to realize that he’s just playing golf. When I’m at home that’s how I play. I play a lot with my friends and I smile, I make jokes and I give them crap. I think that’s what I do best and that’s how I play my best golf and I’ve never done it on the golf course.”
Diaz will carry a two-stroke lead over Uihlein – and a five-stroke lead over the rest of the field – entering Sunday’s final round.
Diaz has held a share of the 54-hole lead once before at the 2018 Albertsons Boise Open but finished fifth.