Vince Whaley shot a bogey-free, 7-under 63 on the Seaside Course on Saturday, tying his career-low round on the PGA Tour, to take a share of the lead at 14-under at the RSM Classic. This is his first lead/co-lead after any round on Tour in his 110th start.
“It feels awesome,” said Whaley. “I’ve obviously played some good golf to this point, so just excited for the opportunity. But everything’s been pretty good the whole week. My putting was OK yesterday, but other than that, it’s been good.”
He entered the FedExCup Fall at No. 123 in the standings and moved to No. 113 after a T5 at last week’s Butterfield Bermuda Championship, his second top-10 of the season (other: runner-up/Barracuda Championship).
“I felt like I was playing really good last week, I had a nice finish,” continued Whaley. “It was a super stressful week just trying to get inside that 125, so it’s just been a relief if anything just to come out here and play this week. I thought it was going to be a pretty stress-free week, got a little bit to do tomorrow, but it’s been great.”
Maverick McNealy who held a share of the lead after the first round closed with a 66 to take a share of the 54-hole lead on Tour for the second time (previous: T1/2021 Procore Championship/finished 2nd).
“It’s exactly where I want to be. I’m really excited about the golf that’s gotten me there. It’s kind of affirming to come to a golf course that I haven’t had much success on with being a really good test of approach play. The guys who hit their irons really well play well here. Kind of icy dormant Bermuda, which is a grass type that I don’t see much on the west coast,” said McNealy.
“Came in this week with a goal of testing my game to play in kind of unfriendly conditions and really excited with how it’s panned out.”
He has had two career runner-ups in 141 Tour starts at the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the 2021 Procore Championship. His most recent of five top-10 finishes in 27 starts in 2024 was T6 at the World Wide Technology Championship.
McNealy qualified for the FedEx St. Jude Championship (T12) and finished No. 53 through the FedExCup Playoffs. He is currently No. 52 in the FedExCup Fall as he seeks to finish inside the Aon Next 10 (Nos. 51-60) to qualify for two Signature Events in 2025 (AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, The Genesis Invitational).
Daniel Berger signed for a 63 to take a share of third place at 12-under, his best 54-hole position since the 2022 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches. His fourth and last win on the PGA Tour came at the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Berger entered the final week of the FedExCup Fall at No. 127 as he is playing his last year on a tournament winner’s exemption and is currently projected to move to No. 108.
Mackenzie Hughes, who won the 2016 RSM Classic, signed for a third-round 65 and lies in a share of third place alongside Michael Thorbjornsen who closed with a 67.
Rookie Patrick Fishburn rounds out the all-American top-5 after recording two double bogeys at the par-4s 4th and 10th as well as two birdies for a 69 and a share of third place.
Defending champion Ludvig Åberg of Sweden who had made great strides up the leaderboard with a 64 in the second round had a trying time on Saturday firing three birdies and four bogeys for a 71 and moved down into T42 at 4-under.
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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.
