Fortinet Championship R3

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3
September 16-19
Silverado Resort and Spa North, Napa, California
$7,000,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Jim Knous produced six birdies on the front nine, a single bogey at the par-4 12th and two more birdies, one on the final hole, to close with a 65 and a share of the lead at 14-under in the Fortinet Championship.

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

“It was a great day, putter got hot there late on the back nine, on the front nine, stayed hot pretty much most of the round. Especially a nice putt on the last, that was a bonus. Just played solid, just stayed patient, kind of let the course come to me. When it gets firm and fast like that, just got to be patient.”

Knous made five cuts in eighteen starts on the Korn Ferry Tour last season and finished 25th in the Finals earning his PGA Tour card. He is playing this week on a medical extension due to a wrist injury and has one more start left on his extension. A two-way T3 finish would earn him full status on the PGA Tour while a solo 12th or better would give him conditional status on the PGA and full Korn Ferry Tour status allowing him to avoid Q-School.

“I’d probably be lying to say it wasn’t on my mind, but the best I can do is just hit every shot the best I can and things will work out how they should. My wife dubbed it this week, try my best — what did she say? Do your best, let God do the rest. That’s kind of what I’ve been working on this week and it’s been paying off. I just want to go out there with a winner’s mindset and try and win the tournament.”

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

Tied alongside him is fellow American and overnight leader Maverick McNealy who followed up his second-round 64 with a 70 on Saturday. His front nine consisted of two birdies and four bogeys. He recovered some of his earlier momentum and produced four more birdies on the back nine, three of them in the final three holes.

“It was a crazy day, I’m not going to lie, that front nine got going pretty quick. Hit it in a few funny spots. We were on the clock I think on I want to say the ninth hole and it was just pretty hectic.

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

“First hole, Beau [Hossler] had to take a drop out of the left hazard. The third hole I hit it in a tree well and actually had to chip out sideways and was really lucky that I didn’t try to hit a full swing because I chipped out sideways and a softball-sized rock came out from under the ball. Actually kind of stung my wrist a little bit. I’m really glad I didn’t go after that one full because I told Travis, I said I would have been out for a year. That was strange.

“I sent it over the green and two-chipped on 4, and 5 was getting dicey. It was just one of those days where balls were ending up in funny spots with the golf course this firm.

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

“Then got to the 12th fairway. I remember hitting a good tee shot down the middle on the 12th with a utility iron and everything seemed to slow down and calm down for me. I started seeing my lines with the putter and I was really proud how I finished.

“I really wanted to make that last birdie and get in that final group tomorrow. Whether that one shot ends up being a difference to win or not, it will just be great experience to be in the final group. I learned a lot today. I learned a lot managing my emotions. I’m pushing my comfort zone. My golf skill has gotten a lot better, but I still feel like I’m coming down the experience curve quite a bit and I think as a golfer I grew up a lot today and I’m really excited to see how I f eel out there tomorrow.”

Americans Max Homa (65), Scott Stallings (67), Troy Merritt (69) and Beau Hossler (70) share third place with Chilean Mito Pereira (70) at 12-under.

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

Talor Gooch is in solo eighth place at 11-under after a bogey-free 66 followed by ten players tied for ninth at 10-under.

Among them is Phil Mickelson who produced a run of five birdies from the 13th and closed with a 67 to move into contention.

“I finished up well birdieing five in a row there on the back. Had a nice stretch with the putter. I had a chance the first eight holes to get the round going and I let a few opportunities slide, but I came back with a good solid round. I’m in a position where a good round tomorrow will do some good, and it’s fun to have a little later tee time and to feel some of the nerves and so forth. I know I’m going to have to shoot probably 7, 8, 9 under par to have a chance, but either way it’s fun having that chance.”

Fortinet Championship 2021 R3

Pos.	Player	To Par	R1	R2	R3	Total
T1	Jim Knous	-14	70	67	65	202
T1	Maverick McNealy	-14	68	64	70	202
T3	Max Homa	-12	67	72	65	204
T3	Scott Stallings	-12	67	70	67	204
T3	Mito Pereira	-12	67	67	70	204
T3	Troy Merritt	-12	67	68	69	204
T3	Beau Hossler	-12	70	64	70	204
8	Talor Gooch	-11	69	70	66	205
T9	Webb Simpson	-10	70	71	65	206
T9	Phil Mickelson	-10	70	69	67	206
T9	C.T. Pan	-10	71	68	67	206
T9	Patton Kizzire	-10	69	70	67	206
T9	Dawie van der Walt	-10	68	70	68	206
T9	Si Woo Kim	-10	68	70	68	206
T9	Scott Piercy	-10	69	69	68	206
T9	Tom Hoge	-10	71	66	69	206
T9	Harold Varner III	-10	68	68	70	206
T9	Will Zalatoris	-10	68	67	71	206
T19	Andrew Putnam	-9	72	69	66	207
T19	Charley Hoffman	-9	69	71	67	207
T19	Aaron Baddeley	-9	71	68	68	207
T19	Austin Cook	-9	68	71	68	207
T19	John Augenstein	-9	68	69	70	207
T19	Nate Lashley	-9	67	70	70	207
T19	David Lipsky	-9	73	64	70	207
T26	Marc Leishman	-8	69	71	68	208
T26	Kevin Tway	-8	70	69	69	208
T26	Sahith Theegala	-8	69	70	69	208
T26	Patrick Rodgers	-8	68	70	70	208
T26	Matt Kuchar	-8	70	66	72	208
T26	Bronson Burgoon	-8	68	67	73	208
T32	Nick Hardy	-7	69	72	68	209
T32	Justin Suh	-7	70	71	68	209
T32	Wyndham Clark	-7	68	71	70	209
T32	Jason Dufner	-7	67	72	70	209
T32	Cameron Tringale	-7	66	72	71	209
T32	Mark Hubbard	-7	70	68	71	209
T32	Hideki Matsuyama	-7	69	69	71	209
T39	Nick Watney	-6	71	70	69	210
T39	Dylan Wu	-6	70	70	70	210
T39	Chez Reavie	-6	65	75	70	210
T39	Taylor Pendrith	-6	71	68	71	210
T39	Peter Malnati	-6	71	66	73	210
T44	Sung Kang	-5	70	71	70	211
T44	Brendon Todd	-5	71	70	70	211
T44	Jim Herman	-5	70	71	70	211
T44	Adam Svensson	-5	70	70	71	211
T44	Joseph Bramlett	-5	70	70	71	211
T44	Greyson Sigg	-5	68	72	71	211
T44	Russell Knox	-5	69	67	75	211
T51	Paul Barjon	-4	70	71	71	212
T51	Lanto Griffin	-4	73	68	71	212
T51	Sean O’Hair	-4	69	72	71	212
T51	Ryan Armour	-4	72	68	72	212
T51	Cameron Percy	-4	71	69	72	212
T51	Austin Smotherman	-4	70	69	73	212
T57	Luke List	-3	71	70	72	213
T57	Michael Thompson	-3	72	69	72	213
T57	Adam Schenk	-3	68	73	72	213
T57	Brendan Steele	-3	70	71	72	213
T57	Scott Gutschewski	-3	69	70	74	213
62	Quade Cummins	-2	72	69	73	214
T63	David Skinns	-1	70	71	74	215
T63	Michael Gligic	-1	71	70	74	215
T63	Matthew NeSmith	-1	73	68	74	215
T63	Nick Taylor	-1	70	71	74	215
T67	Peter Uihlein	E	68	73	75	216
T67	Vaughn Taylor	E	70	71	75	216
T67	Chase Seiffert	E	73	67	76	216
70	Sam Ryder	+2	69	71	78	218
CUT	Doc Redman	-2	71	71		142
CUT	Bo Van Pelt	-2	75	67		142
CUT	Tyler Duncan	-2	74	68		142
CUT	Charles Howell III	-2	70	72		142
CUT	Brandt Snedeker	-2	68	74		142
CUT	Trey Mullinax	-2	73	69		142
CUT	Davis Riley	-2	72	70		142
CUT	James Hahn	-2	73	69		142
CUT	Chad Ramey	-2	73	69		142
CUT	Kyle Stanley	-2	71	71		142
CUT	J.J. Spaun	-2	70	72		142
CUT	Danny Willett	-2	70	72		142
CUT	J.B. Holmes	-2	71	71		142
CUT	Adam Long	-2	70	72		142
CUT	Martin Trainer	-2	70	72		142
CUT	Aaron Rai	-2	70	72		142
CUT	Curtis Thompson	-2	71	71		142
CUT	Ryan Moore	-1	74	69		143
CUT	William McGirt	-1	71	72		143
CUT	Roger Sloan	-1	70	73		143
CUT	Bo Hoag	-1	72	71		143
CUT	Turk Pettit	-1	71	72		143
CUT	Bill Haas	-1	69	74		143
CUT	Jon Rahm	-1	72	71		143
CUT	Hank Lebioda	-1	71	72		143
CUT	Harry Higgs	-1	71	72		143
CUT	Scott Brown	-1	70	73		143
CUT	Adam Hadwin	-1	66	77		143
CUT	Lucas Herbert	-1	71	72		143
CUT	Kristoffer Ventura	-1	72	71		143
CUT	John Huh	E	71	73		144
CUT	Kelly Kraft	E	71	73		144
CUT	Seung-Yul Noh	E	72	72		144
CUT	Vincent Whaley	E	71	73		144
CUT	Andrew Novak	E	70	74		144
CUT	Hayden Buckley	E	71	73		144
CUT	Jamie Lovemark	E	69	75		144
CUT	Ben Martin	E	70	74		144
CUT	Jonathan Byrd	E	69	75		144
CUT	Emiliano Grillo	E	70	74		144
CUT	Cameron Champ	E	73	71		144
CUT	Doug Ghim	E	70	74		144
CUT	Callum Tarren	E	70	74		144
CUT	Brian Stuard	+1	77	68		145
CUT	Max McGreevy	+1	72	73		145
CUT	Stephan Jaeger	+1	75	70		145
CUT	Joshua Creel	+1	73	72		145
CUT	Brice Garnett	+1	73	72		145
CUT	Seth Reeves	+1	70	75		145
CUT	Jonas Blixt	+2	73	73		146
CUT	Alex Smalley	+2	75	71		146
CUT	Denny McCarthy	+2	72	74		146
CUT	Josh McCarthy	+2	74	72		146
CUT	Brandon Wu	+2	71	75		146
CUT	Brett Drewitt	+2	74	72		146
CUT	David Hearn	+2	72	74		146
CUT	Brandon Hagy	+2	74	72		146
CUT	Pat Perez	+2	70	76		146
CUT	Kevin Na	+2	69	77		146
CUT	Kurt Kitayama	+2	76	70		146
CUT	Tyler McCumber	+3	70	77		147
CUT	Kiradech Aphibarnrat	+3	72	75		147
CUT	Kevin Stadler	+3	74	73		147
CUT	J.T. Poston	+3	76	71		147
CUT	Hudson Swafford	+3	77	70		147
CUT	Chesson Hadley	+3	71	76		147
CUT	Chris Stroud	+3	72	75		147
CUT	Danny Lee	+3	71	76		147
CUT	Taylor Moore	+3	74	73		147
CUT	Lee Hodges	+3	73	74		147
CUT	D.J. Trahan	+4	70	78		148
CUT	Kramer Hickok	+4	74	74		148
CUT	Cameron Young	+4	75	73		148
CUT	Justin Lower	+4	69	79		148
CUT	Trevor Werbylo	+4	73	75		148
CUT	Ben Kohles	+5	74	75		149
CUT	Kevin Yu	+5	71	78		149
CUT	Kevin Chappell	+6	78	72		150
CUT	Jared Wolfe	+6	75	75		150
CUT	Sepp Straka	+7	72	79		151
CUT	Dylan Frittelli	+8	74	78		152
CUT	Michael Duncan	+9	78	75		153
CUT	Andrew Landry	+10	77	77		154
CUT	Sebastián Muñoz	+12	76	80		156
CUT	Ted Potter, Jr.	+12	74	82		156
DQ	Michael Kim	E	72	76		148