Andrew Novak of the United States and Puerto Rico’s Rafael Campos both signed for bogey-free 62s to take a one shot lead at 16-under at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
In his 85th start on the PGA Tour, Novak carded his lowest round and holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time. 197 marks his low 54-hole total on Tour. He birdied seven of his first nine holes to post his career-low nine-hole score (29) and equal the 9-hole scoring record at this event (7-under 29/front nine).
“I missed a lot of putts the first two rounds and hit a good shot into 1, made probably a 12-footer or so, that just kind of got it going, seeing ’em go in, kind of kept it rolling and just got hot,” said Novak.
“Luckily we had not much wind early and so I was able to get a nice rhythm going early in the round. We really didn’t start feeling much wind until about the sixth hole and by then I’m 5-under through six. So I picked up a little bit then and carried some momentum, had some downwind holes, was able to take advantage of that. It kicked up again last few holes, but I was able to make some good saves, good pars, just ride some momentum.”
Novak started the week No. 93 in the FedExCup Fall standings and is projected No. 56 seeking to secure a spot in the Aon Next 10.
Campos, in his 80th Tour start, also seeks his first win and holds the 54-hole lead/co-lead for the third time. Like his co-lead his 197 total marks his low 54-hole total on Tour and 62 his low score.
Following his lone top-10 this season at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson (T9) he missed the cut in 13 of his next 15 starts (not including this week).
“I really am happy about the last couple days, especially today. Yesterday was no wind but today was a real test on some of the holes into the wind,” said Campos.
“What went right today. I was really fortunate the short game was really on point today. It’s been quite some time I haven’t felt as comfortable chipping, but I had a couple chip-ins today and the putter rolled really well, S.o I think that started giving me a lot more confidence in just understanding and knowing that let’s just try to give ourselves some looks, don’t do anything kind of stupid, give yourself chances and I started seeing a lot of them fall in. It was a great day, to tell the truth. It was really fun to battle out there like the course, the elements and really happy it turned out the way it did.”
American Justin Lower who held the overnight lead made two bogeys including at the final hole where he found the penalty
area with his tee shot. He closed with a 68 to move down into third place at 15-under. 198 marks his low 54-hole total on Tour.
With a 10-under 61, American Wesley Bryan carded his career-low 18-hole score to tie the tournament record (Taylor Pendrith/R2/2021, Alex Noren/R1/2022) and equalled the 9-hole scoring record at this event (6-under 29/back nine).
Bryan made two eagles at the par-5 17th and 7th and lies in fourth place at 13-under. He began the week No. 128 in the FedExCup Fall standings and is projected to move to No. 112.
*
Nos. 1-50 in the FedExCup standings through the Tour Championship are locked in their positions, while Nos. 51 and beyond carry their FedExCup points into the Fall. Nos. 51-60 through the FedExCup Fall will qualify for two Signature Events in 2025: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational. No players moved into Nos. 51-60 this week.
The Top 125 will be exempt into all Full-Field events and The Players next season and Nos. 126-150 will earn full Korn Ferry Tour status and conditional status on Tour next season.
