With an exciting weekend in prospect, Mallinger is full of confidence as he chases a maiden PGA Tour victory.
"It's only the second time I've shot 62 in seven years out here, so it's not very often," said the California native.
"It's just one of those days where everything just kind of clicks and you just roll with it. I drove it great, irons were great, and made putts."
Mallinger lives in Long Beach and has found the greens this week to his liking.
"It's the same grass I practice on at home," he said. "I'm just real comfortable with the speed. I just have some good thoughts over the putter right now, and that's not every week.
"Hopefully I can take advantage of it and keep it going into the weekend."
Having twice finished as runner up in PGA Tour events, Mallinger believes he can go one further on the weekend.
"It's difficult. I've been out here six years and I haven't won yet. Been close a lot of times, lost in a playoff, had a bunch of third places," he said.
"I feel like I'm close. I don't think I would be up here if I wasn't. I'm not going to go into the weekend scared.
"I'm going to play as hard as I can and compete as hard as I can."
