Clements holds lead in windy conditions
Todd Clements, an Englishman, maintained his two-stroke lead on Saturday at the Corales Puntacana Championship. Competing in windy conditions, Clements posted a 5-under 67 in the third round. This performance brought his total to 18-under 198 at Puntacana Resort and Club.
Clements has opened the tournament with three consecutive rounds in the 60s, starting with a 65, followed by a 66, and then Saturday’s 67. He is aiming for his first victory on the PGA Tour in this alternate event, which is being played opposite the British Open.
Challengers and record-setting pace
Ben James remains Clements’ closest competitor, two strokes back at 16-under 200. James, who is making his fifth professional start, also recorded a 67 on Saturday, marking his third straight round in the 60s. He is set to join Clements in the final pairing.
Clements’ 54-hole total of 198 established a new tournament record. This score surpassed the previous record of 199, which was set by Adam Long in 2021, Wesley Bryan in 2024, and Joel Dahmen last year. None of the prior record-setters converted their strong starts into a victory.
Other players made significant moves on the leaderboard. Max McGreevy matched the low round of the day with a 7-under 65. He is currently tied for third at 14 under with Stefano Mazzoli, who shot a 66, and Gordon Sargent, who posted a 69. McGreevy’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the 12th hole.
Aaron Wise and Dylan Frittelli both carded 66s. Wise moved into a five-player tie for sixth place at 13 under. This group includes Blades Brown, Marcel Schneider, Jacob Skov Olesen, and Joe Highsmith.
Clements reflects on his performance
Clements expressed his approach to the tournament, stating, “Look, you don’t turn up to any tournament not trying to win. Did I think it would be this week? Not sure, but here we are.” He normally competes on the DP World Tour, where his only title came at the 2023 Czech Masters, which he won by one stroke after a final round of 63.
James also shared his excitement for the final day, noting, “I’m playing some good golf and I’m really excited for tomorrow. We’ll try to keep it going. Very excited for hopefully a good day.” McGreevy commented on his round, stating, “Nothing amazing at the start, just a couple solid birdies. I think I just kind of settled in and kept giving myself a bunch of chances.”
A victory for Clements would secure his PGA Tour status through the 2027 season. Clements acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, “There’s a lot of golf left to go. I had my fair share of luck a little bit out there this week and that needs to continue for that to happen. But I think we just kind of lean on my past experiences and see where it takes me.”
Johannes Veerman, who began the round tied for second, finished with a 73, placing him eight shots behind the leader at 10 under.
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Source: livingstonenterprise.net
