By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Russell Henley was on target for a third straight even-par day at the U.S. Open.

          Then a few holes on the back nine that got him on Thursday got frisky again. Henley bogeyed two of the final four holes to drop to a 2-over 212 through three rounds in Pinehurst, N.C.

          Still, he maintained his standing from Friday, in a tie for 16th.

          Henley hasn’t spent much time under par, and Saturday was no different. After opening with a birdie for the second straight day, he bogeyed his second hole, for the second straight day.

          So much for under par.

          He was even or 1 over the rest of the afternoon, even through 14.

          And as per the first two days, Henley had another odd bogey, on 15, missing a par putt of about four feet.

          He escaped trouble nicely on 16 when his second shot rolled off the green down a hill into a low-cut rough. He hit a 9-footer for par.

On 18, after a day of accurate tee shots, he found the right native area. His 29-footer for par was just right, and he had a safe bogey.

He had a respectable day hitting fairways (11 of 14, tied for 12th), but was 62nd in stroke gained off the tee and 48th in strokes gained on approach.

Henley is nine shots back of leader Bryson DeChambeau, one of only seven players to shoot under par on Saturday. Only 11 go into the final day at even or better for the tournament.

Henley tees of Sunday at 12:48 p.m., playing with Akshay Bhatia.