Since 2012, the Barracuda Championship has been played using Modified Stableford scoring system, allocating points based on the number of strokes taken at each hole, with the goal of achieving the highest overall number of points.

American Ben Martin recorded nine birdies and two bogeys to take a two point lead.

“+16 is usually a tough start. This week it’s good. To be honest warming up on the range this morning, it’s cold, I’m getting old, it’s hard to keep my body moving well,” said Martin.

“I had very few expectations, but went out, was hitting the ball in front of me, kind of hitting to where I was looking and made some early putts. Saw those go in, so confident with the putter.

“Just one of those days where you think about the type of round you want to play and I was putting it together.

“I think sometimes when you tamper your expectations and just — I was trying to go play free, trying to play not caring I guess about the result.

“Sometimes that’s — a lot of times that’s easier said than done, but I managed to I think stay present in the round and not really care where the ball was going even when some birdies started going in.

“Sometimes you can feel the pressure, oh, I got to finish this off because I’m playing a good round. I want to finish it off strong.

“I did make a couple bogeys late but bounced back and birdied the last two holes.”

Martin has won once on the PGA Tour, at the 2015 Shriners Children’s Open, and holds his fifth 18-hole lead/co-lead. He is 0-for-4 converting to victory (most recently: 2023 Corales Puntacana Championship/finished T8).

In thirteen starts this season, Martin has had one top-25 finish (T9/Corales Puntacana Championship).

Americans Nick Watney and David Lipsky are tied in second place with 14 points.

Whatney, who has had three top-10 finish in 12 career starts in the Barracuda Championship, is playing as a sponsor exemption this week. He has made two cuts in six starts this season (T34/Puerto Rico Open, T45/ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic).

American Cameron Champ is tied in fourth place with 13 points. He sits inside the top 10 after 18 holes for the third consecutive week (T10/ISCO Championship/finished T14, T8/John Deere Classic/finished T27).

Also part of the six-way tie for fourth place is DP World Tour member Todd Clements of England who was the only player with multiple eagles (Nos. 3 and 11). He claims his first top-10 position after any round on the PGA Tour in his fifth start.

Defending champion and two-time PGA Tour winner Nick Dunlap lies in 151st place at -6. He owns three top-25 finishes in 19 starts this season.

In the Modified Stableford scoring format, South African Erik van Rooyen holds the tournament’s 72-hole scoring record of +50 (2021) and South Korean S.Y. Noh recorded the best 18-hole score of +23 (R1/2023).

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