Brady Shivers and Thumper Galyean came up just short the last time they partnered in a city major golf tournament, losing a sudden-death playoff in last year’s Lubbock Country Club Par Buster.
Maybe they can craft a better ending in a new year on a new course.
Shivers and Galyean birdied the first four holes and the last four holes in shooting 12-under-par 60 in Saturday’s second round of the Stampede partnership. They’re 21-under after 36 holes at LakeRidge Country Club, good for a five-stroke lead over Dustin Lewis and Parker Beaty, who signed for a 63.
Alex Ellis and Cory Bull, trying to win a third Lubbock major in two years, are 15-under and six back after firing a 61. The Austin residents, champions of last year’s Hillcrest Swinger and Lubbock Country Club Par Buster, started their round Saturday on hole No. 10 and stayed in the hunt by going 10-under in an 11-hole stretch from Nos. 16 through No. 8.
Shivers and Galyean were 7-under for the day after making birdies on the first four holes, five of the first six and two more around the turn. After they birdied the par-4 10th, they had a four-shot lead. The teams of Lewis-Beaty and Jake Salyer-Jack Vanderburg pulled back within three after Lewis and Beaty birdied the par-5 12th and Vanderburg birdied the par-3 13th.
More: Shot in the dark: Arreola, Couch win Hillcrest Swinger on eighth hole of sudden death
Revisiting last year: Doggett, Ware win LakeRidge Stampede with final-round 63
Shivers and Galyean padded their lead over the last four holes, though, with birdies on a par-3, a par-5 and two par-4s.
The final round of the tournament is scheduled for Sunday. Shivers and Galyean will tee it up alongside Lewis and Beaty in the last pairing at 2:42 pm
It will likely be the third Lubbock major of the year won by a different team. Blake Robertson and Stefan Cronje took the Reese Memorial Day Partnership, and Taylor Arreola and Mason Couch won last month’s Hillcrest Swinger on the eighth hole of sudden death.
Shivers and Galyean were the 18-hole leaders after they carded a bogey-free 63 in Friday’s first round. They made four birdies on the front nine, three on the back nine and eagled the par-5 No. 12.