Defending champion Davis Thompson moved into a one-shot lead at 15-under at the John Deere Classic on Saturday after firing six birdies and two bogeys for a 67.

“Feel like I was hitting it solid; just didn’t really score great on the front,” said the American. “My caddie gave me a pep talk on 10 tee and I was able to finish strong. Nice to kind of have some momentum going into tomorrow.

“I’ll take a look at the weather and the hole locations and get a game plan together for tomorrow. Early on probably not going to be scoreboard watching at all. Yeah, by the back nine, see where I am and go from there.”

Thompson seeks a second PGA Tour title in his 90th start at the age of 26. He owns one top-10 in nineteen starts this season (T10/The Players Championship).

With a win on Sunday Thompson would become the first winner since K.H. Lee at the The CJ Cup Byron Nelson in 2021 and 2022 to earn his first two wins back-to-back at the same event and the first repeat winner at the John Deere Classic since Steve Stricker won three in a row from 2009-11.

Scottie Scheffler, at The Memorial, is the only player this season who has successfully defended his title.

American David Lipsky fired five birdies and two bogey for a 68 and a share of second place at 14-under. He seeks a first career PGA Tour title in his 129th start.

Emiliano Grillo made a single bogey and also carded a 68 for a share of second place. He seeks to become the first Argentinian winner of the John Deere Classic and first international winner of the event since Austria’s Sepp Straka in 2023.

Brian Campbell of the United States joined the tie for second place with his own 68 having made one bogey. With a win, he would become the sixth multiple winner on Tour this season (2025 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld).

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