Aldrich Potgieter moved back into the lead by two shots at 19-under on Saturday at the Rocket Classic following a bogey-free 65 featuring five consecutive birdies from the 4th.

“I was rolling a lot of good putts out there. A lot of them dropped, putts that I didn’t think were going to drop. I think like on holes, let me think, probably 5, the par 3 after the par 5, that was a really big putt. Momentum shifted there,” said Potgieter.

“But yeah, that front nine really helped me to get through. A lot of par saves on this back nine. I felt like I had to stay in it, dig deep to kind of get through that. Didn’t birdie the par 5s, which is unfortunate, but yeah, should be a good day tomorrow.

“I think [the course is] playing different. Wind is definitely coming out of the north where usually it’s the south. That made the front nine play a little easier for me and the back a little harder. It’s getting back to the north side tomorrow so should be interesting to see what scores will be like.”

This is the South African’s first time recording two rounds of 7-under or better in the same event on the PGA Tour (62/R1, 65/R3) and his second time as a 54-hole lead/co-lead (2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld/P2).

At 20 years, 9 months, 16 days on Sunday, Potgieter would become the seventh-youngest PGA Tour winner since the start of 1983. He would also become the youngest winner from South Africa since 1983, it is currently Garrick Higgo at 22 years, 1 month, 1 day at the 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree.

The PGA Tour rookie has had three top-25 finishes in thirteen starts this season (T15/Farmers Insurance Open, P2/Mexico Open at VidantaWorld, T6/Charles Schwab Challenge). He leads all players in Driving Distance this season (326.6).

Americans Max Greyserman, Jake Knapp, Mark Hubbard, Andrew Putnam and Chris Kirk are all tied in second place at 17-under.

Greyserman fired an eagle at the par-5 7th as well as six birdies and two bogeys for a 66. He has had three runner-up results in 46 starts on Tour, including back-to-back at the 3M Open and Wyndham Championship in 2024 (was also T2/2024 at the Baycurrent Classic). His best result this season was T7 at The American Express.

One day after posting a tournament-record 11-under 61, Jake Knapp closed with three consecutive birdies for 6-under 66 having earlier made four birdies and one bogey in search of his second win (2024 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld).

Mark Hubbard, who is looking for his first title in his 250th start, fired nine birdies and four bogeys for a 67.

Andrew Putnam made four birdies and one bogey to close with a 69. He is seeking a second PGA Tour victory (2018 Barracuda Championship) in his 230th career start. He recorded his first top-10 finish of the season in his most recent start (T6/RBC Canadian Open).

Chris Kirk also made a single bogey for a 69. With a win he would become the oldest winner on Tour this season (40 years, 1 month, 21 days on Sunday).

American Philip Knowles who shared the overnight lead with Kirk and Putnam fired three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys at the par-3s 11th and 15th for a 75 and moved down into T33 at 11-under.

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