Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg maintained a one-stroke lead on a day when low scores were in abundance on the Seaside course during the third round of the RSM Classic in St. Simons Island, Ga., on Saturday.
Aberg fired a 61 to sit at 20-under-par 192 heading into Sunday’s round. However, playing partner Eric Cole also carded a 61 to sit snug in second place at 19 under. Mackenzie Hughes topped those scores with a 10-under 60 to vault into solo third at 18 under.
Aberg and Cole set career-lows with their matching 61s while Hughes ties his career-low. Aberg and Cole are in search of their first win on the PGA Tour.
Tyler Duncan sits fourth after a 62 and Sam Ryder fell to solo fifth after a “paltry” 65. Ryder is five shots off the lead.
Aberg has yet to post a bogey through 54 holes. He recorded four birdies and an eagle on five straight holes on the back nine to maintain his lead.
“You get a lot of wedges on the back nine, you get basically all of them, and then 15’s a reachable par 5,” Aberg said. “I felt like I was striking the ball well. … I felt I was striking the ball well and kind of took advantage of a little bit easier conditions today.”
Cole also had a scintillating back nine, posting five birdies and an eagle. His only blemish was a bogey on No. 4.
“I wasn’t hitting any bad shots or anything like that, just kind of mis-clubbed on the hole I made a bogey on,” Cole said. “Just tried to stay patient and not get in too big of a panic and kind of realize that if I continue to hit good shots, hopefully it will switch to making birdies instead of that one bogey.”
Hughes missed a 16-foot, 5-inch birdie putt at No. 18 for a 59, recording a 60 for the second time in his career.
“I probably feel a little bit of disappointment on those last holes, but that’s golfers being golfers, right? Disappointed with a 60,” Hughes said.
Other golfers taking advantage of the conditions Saturday were Ryan Moore (62), Kevin Tway (63), Charley Hoffman (62), Will Gordon (63) and Harris English (63). Moore and Tway moved into a tie for eighth but they’re seven shots off the lead.
–Field Level Media
