Keith Mitchell signed for a bogey-free 65 to take a one-shot lead into the final day. At 20-under 196, he tied the Sanderson Farms Championship 54-hole record (Steve Lowery/2000, Scott Stallings/2012, Ben Griffin/2023).
“Consistent. Smooth I guess,” said the American. “I definitely hit a few bad shots, and when I did, I just made sure I got it back in play and made par and tried to capitalize on the me that I had a good chance.
“The putt on 17 was just a huge bonus. Then I got a accident lie on 18 and hit a great shot. All in all, it started kind of slow and the last ten holes I was just able to capitalize a little bit more.
“My putter feels great. My ball striking was better today. I think it could be just a touch better tomorrow. But if I do hit a bad shot, understanding it’s okay to hit a bad shot and just get right back in play and try to make par and let my putter try to make some birdie putts when the pins are tough.”
Mitchell, playing in his 185th start, has one revious win on the PGA Tour, at the 2019 Cognizant Classic. 196 ties his low opening 36-hole score on Tour (2021 Sony Open in Hawaii/T14, 2019 Sony Open in Hawaii/T16). He has had three top-10 finishes in 23 starts this season, most recently T10 at the RBC Canadian Open.
Overnight leader Beau Hossler suffered from a double bogey at the par-4 12th and closed with a 68 to move down into second place at 19-under. A 197 total marks his career-best opening 54-hole score. A win on Sunday would be be his first on Tour in his 200th start at the age of 29 years, 6 months, 20 days.
“Other than [the double] it was pretty flawless,” said Hossler. “Was in play pretty good off the tee. Maybe didn’t drive it quite as well as I did the first two rounds, but was able to get a lot of looks at birdie and took care of the par-5s and the drivable hole, which is what I talked about yesterday being really important out here.”
Taipei’s Kevin Yu signed for a 66 to move into third place at 18-under placing him in the top-10 after 54 holes for the third time this season.
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The 2024 Sanderson Farms Championship is the second event of the FedExCup Fall, a group of eight tournaments played after the Tour Championship that finalizes eligibility for the 2025 PGA TOUR Season.
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).
Currently projected to move into Nos. 51-60: Keith Mitchell (1st; from No. 72 to No. 52).
Currently projected to fall out of Nos. 51-60: Min Woo Lee (not in field; from No. 60 to No. 61).
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.
Currently projected to move into the Top 125: Vince Whaley (T13; from No. 126 to No. 119), Hayden Springer (T13; from No. 127 to No. 120), Michael Thorbjornsen (T7; from No. 134 to No. 125).
Currently projected to fall out of the Top 125: Pierceson Coody (MC; from No. 121 to No. 126, Dylan Wu (MC; from No. 122 to No. 127), Matt NeSmith (T53; from No. 124 to No. 129).
Related: Tyrrell Hatton equals course record at the Old Course to take lead
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