Andrew Svoboda is contending for his first win, while Will MacKenzie is poised to potentially end a lengthy victory drought. Here’s how things stand after three rounds of the McGladrey Classic, where Svoboda and MacKenzie share the lead:
Leaderboard: Andrew Svoboda (-12), Will MacKenzie (-12), Russell Henley (-11), Stewart Cink (-9), Chris Kirk (-9), Andrew Putnam (-9), Fabian Gomez (-9), Brendon de Jonge (-9)
What it means: Svoboda was a runner-up last season in New Orleans but has yet to win, while MacKenzie hasn’t hoisted a trophy since 2008. The two men will play together in Sunday’s final pairing while Henley, the leader after 36 holes, lingers just one shot off the pace while a large group of players at 9 under will go to bed with realistic visions of a victory come Sunday.
Round of the day: Cink hasn’t won since his triumph at the 2009 Open Championship, but the veteran put himself in contention with a 7-under 63 in the third round. Cink began on the back nine and birdied five of his first six holes, including four straight birdies on Nos. 12-15, then added three more circles on Nos. 5-7 to move within three shots of the lead.
Best of the rest: While Sean O’Hair’s 64 moved him up the standings, MacKenzie carded an eventful 65 to grab a share of the lead. The highlight came with a hole-in-one on No. 6, but MacKenzie’s round also included birdies on two of his final three holes, capped by a 44-foot bomb on the home hole to grab a share of the lead.
Biggest disappointment: Brian Harman appeared poised to contend for a second career title, but after a 3-over 73 Harman plummeted down the standings. With only one birdie and a back-nine 39, Harman fell seven shots off the pace despite playing in front of partisan crowds as a former Georgia Bulldog.
Main storyline heading into Sunday: Sea Island could potentially crown another first-time winner, as Svoboda will look to fend off MacKenzie who is coming off a resurgent 2013-14 season. Should they stumble, though, the chase pack at 9 under includes Kirk, the defending champion, and Cink, who is eager to end a winless drought that now extends into its sixth year.
Shot of the day: MacKenzie wowed the crowds at Sea Island with his ace at the par-3 sixth, a shot that propelled him into contention. MacKenzie used an 8-iron from 174 yards, finding the hole on the fly for a slam-dunk ace that led to a 5-under 65 in the third round.
