Sylves, Illinois – Davis Thompson hit a 10-foot birdie putt on Saturday to burst out logjam, with 10 players tied for the lead, which allowed him to win the Under 67 game in a tougher golf course and John Deere Classic.
Thompson was five players when Brian Campbell just hit a 30-foot birdie putt.
His last birdie put him in a score below 198, leading by Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo and David Lipski, each with 68.
About the only player not involved was 36-hole leader Doug Ghim, who shot his last 10 holes with two bogeys and no birdies, and shot 74 shots, pushing him into the top 20.
Thompson’s birdie ended, though he missed a 5-5-17-hole 8-foot hawk attempt. Since Steve Stricker won three games in a row from 2009 to 2011, he will try to be the first player to win at John Deere Classic.
Thompson also has a chance to make it to the UK Open as the victory will put him on the top of the next world-ranked alternative list.
But, given how many players there were on Sunday, the last 18 holes felt longer.
“It’s nice to have some momentum going into tomorrow,” Thompson said.
Camilo Villegas (69) and Austin Eckroat (67) are one of four players. Matt Kuchar (67) and Auburn teenager Jackson Koivun are in the fourth group. 13 players are within the lead four goals.
Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun and Kevin Roy have not won the PGA Tour yet. Homa is the most proven lot, though he has been trying to get himself out of the way, which has left him trying to get outside the PGA Tour playoffs this year.
Even after one of his rare mistakes, Homa is stable again. He had 40 yards left in the 5-10-shot green and even crossed the road, but managed to escape with Par and then took advantage of the 68-point back nine.
Homa won the last time on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines in January 2023. He has been underperforming for more than a year since his last top 10, and he has been under scrutiny while changing coaches, equipment and two changes in clothes.
“Golf this year is boring for me. I don’t have a lot of pressure, you want to be stressed. So I’m looking forward to the butterflies in the morning; I’m looking forward to the first tee.” “It feels so good again. It’s been a while.”
This is not the TPC Deere run with a lower score in the opening two rounds. The start time is to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, hot weather and wind combined to make the vegetables stronger. Plus, several pins are stuffed along the edges, punishing the wrong side.
In the third round, there was no shot below 66. In the opening two rounds, 28 scored 65 points or higher.
“When a group of people have a chance, it’s certainly fun,” Kuchar said.
One of them is Koivun, which is still four shots, but has the chance to win an amateur title on the PGA Tour for two consecutive years. Nick Dunlap won American Express last January and left Alabama to win Pro with $20 million in signature campaign.
Koivun has secured a PGA Tour card with the PGA Tour University acceleration program, but is delaying its return to Auburn.
“It’s obviously inspiring to see what he did a year ago,” Coyvan said. “Obviously, becoming a minority [amateurs] Winning professional events would be great. At the end of the day, I just have to go and give it the best shot and be happy with the results. ”
