After a stunning round of 65 at Mallard Cove Golf Course on Saturday, Hank Shaheen may finally be on his way to winning his first Lake Charles Toyota/Lake Charles Men’s City Championship.

“With the greens, I was surprised,” Shaheen said. “I made a couple of putts that I didn’t think they were going in but they stayed on line and went in.

“We just have to see what tomorrow brings.”

The perennial contender has been in this situation before. In 2015, he was tied with Matt Nicholas heading into the final round but finished sixth, and last year he placed fourth. He was third in 2006 and fourth in 2013.

Shaheen will be playing in the final group for the third straight year.

“I have to play shot by shot and hole by hole,” Shaheen said. “If it happens, it happens.

“I haven’t pulled it out yet. I know Gage (Primeaux) and Neithan (Allen) will be right there. It will be a battle.”

Shaheen stands at 10-under after 36 holes and leads Gage Primeaux by one and two-time champ Neithan Allen by five.

Shaheen moved to eight-under after nine holes on Saturday with three birdies and an eagle on No. 8. He got to 11-under after birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 15, but bogeyed No. 18, his first of the tournament, after his second shot went in the pond just in front of the green.

“The face shut down and it went to the left in the water,” Shaheen said. “I just couldn’t do anything about it.

“It was frustrating. I made some putts and hit the ball really well on the front. I got a few good breaks. I wish I could have finished a little better, but I am happy where I stand.”

Primeaux’s struggles on the first three holes continued after opening with a pair of bogeys, but he carded seven birdies over the next 15 holes.

He even had a chance to tie Shaheen but missed a short uphill putt for eagle on the 18th hole for a 67.

“I feel great,” Primeaux said. “I kind of started off rough, bogey-bogey.

“It kind of aggravated me but I kept my head in it. I missed a 12-foot birdie on Nos. 3 and 4 then finally had one go in on Nos. 5 and 6 like yesterday. I think it will take another five-under. I will be right there. My goal is to not bogey Nos. 1, 2 or 3.”

Through two rounds, Primeaux has played the first three holes at four-over, but is 13-under on the rest of the course.

Allen shot a two-under 70 on Saturday while Zak Barton, who won his third consecutive Frank Terrell Memorial Long Drive Competition late Friday afternoon, posted a 71 to get into the final pairing today.

Two former champs moved up the leader board on Saturday.

7-time champion Billy Gabbert moved up four spots to seventh after a shooting a three-under 69 while four-time champ Matt Nicholas improved on his first round 77 with a 68, just making the cut to stay in the championship flight.

Going into the final round, Bill Perkins leads the 1st flight by two shots over Chris Hood and five over Reid Giardina after shooting a 70 on Saturday.

With weather improving the course drying out, scores dropped in the second round from an average of 74.78 on in the first round to 72.43 with 10 players shooting under par in the championship flight.

Hank Shaheen tee shot par 4 13th

Rick Hickman