Second-round leader Hideki Matsuyama carded a bogey-free 62 on Saturday, setting The Plantation Course record for 54 holes, to keep a one-shot lead at The Sentry in Maui. He posted a career-high eleven birdies having previously shot ten birdies twice, most recently during round four of the 2019 BMW Championship.
“Collin [Morikawa] played well and I just kind of followed him, so good day,” said the Japanese player. “It was a lot of fun, but I would like for him to take it easy tomorrow.”
At 27-under he equaled the lowest 54-hole score in relation to par on the PGA Tour on record, he joins Nick Dunlap (2024 American Express) and Patrick Reed (2014 American Express).
Matsuyama’s 192 total marks his career-low 54-hole score, he had previously posted 193 on his way to victory at the 2024 FedEx St. Jude Championship.
In second place at 26-under, Collin Morikawa also closed with a bogey-free 62, this one featuring an eagle at the par-5 5th.
The American hit 52 of 54 greens in regulation through three rounds of The Sentry. For comparison the PGA Tour record is 53 set by Mike Heinen (1995 Walt Disney World Golf Classic) and Brad Faxon (1991 Farmers Insurance Open).
“Today was really, really good. Couple shots out there a little squirrely, but for the most part the irons were center face, knew where they were going. A little bit off on distance here and there, but felt really, really good, which was nice to have to put a round together like that from start to finish,” said Morikawa.
“It’s nice to have it click together. I told myself — and I know I’ve had good results out here — I told myself, the work I’ve put in in the off-season does not mean I’m going to come out here and play well. It doesn’t mean you’re immediately going to finish top 10, top 5, have a chance to win. But it’s nice to see the things that I’ve been working on continue in and be able to put it all together and shoot some scores in a tournament setting.”
193 marks Morikawa’s career-low 54-hole score, he had previously recorded 195 on two occasions, first at The Sentry in 2023 and later at the 2024 Travelers Championship.
Thomas Detry of Belgium shot a bogey-free 65 and posted a career-low 54-hole score of 197 to move into third place at 22-under. His previous best was 199 at the 2022 Butterfield Bermuda Championship. He seeks his first PGA Tour title in his 64th career start.
“I shot 8-under today, but didn’t really feel like I shot 8-under,” he said. “Other courses when you shoot 8-under you really feel like, ‘Oh, yeah, I played unreal golf here.’ I just felt like I played some really steady golf.”
Sungjae Im made an eagle at the par-5 5th and closed with a bogey-free 62, which ties his career-low round on Tour achieved three times previously.
England’s Harry Hall bogeyed the first hole but also made an eagle at the 5th and carded a 66 to move up to fifth place at 20-under.
