Solid par-3 show solidifies Pendrith’s grasp on summit

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Taylor Pendrith's three-stroke lead in Bermuda is the largest 54-hole margin in tournament history and largest on PGA Tour since the 2021 Wyndham Championship when Russell Henley led by three. Photo: theScore.com
Taylor Pendrith's three-stroke lead in Bermuda is the largest 54-hole margin in tournament history and largest on PGA Tour since the 2021 Wyndham Championship when Russell Henley led by three. Photo: theScore.com

Taylor Pendrith’s 196 total matches the 54-hole tournament record at the Butterfly Bermuda Championship.

The leading three players are from Canada, New Zealand and Australia. A non-American winner on Sunday would mark the fourth in as many weeks on the PGA Tour.

12 of the 16 players at T10 or better seek their first PGA Tour victory.

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Both previous winners of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Brendon Todd and Brian Gay, came from two back after 54 holes to win.

Defending champion Brian Gay fired a bogey-free 64 to sit T22 after making the cut on the number.

 

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Pendrith (1st/-17) birdied three of the four par-3 holes en route 6-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round while searching for his first Tour title.

17-under 196 total matches the Butterfield Bermuda Championship 54-hole record (Harry Higgs/2019).

Following his 36-hole lead/co-lead, he holds his second career lead/co-lead after any round on the Tour.

The three-stroke lead is the largest 54-hole margin in tournament history and largest on Tour since the 2021 Wyndham Championship when Russell Henley led by three.

 

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His best finish in 12 PGA Tour starts is T11 at the 2021 Barbasol Championship.

The Canada native finished the 2020-21 combined season No. 7 in the Korn Ferry Tour points; recorded four runner-up finishes and 21 top-25s across 37 starts.

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Danny Lee (2nd/-14) recorded eight birdies and two bogeys en route to 6-under 65, his lowest round on Tour since the 64/R2/2020 THE NORTHERN TRUST.

The New Zealander seeks second Tour title in his 272nd start, with his first coming in his 98th start at the 2015 Greenbrier Classic in a four-man playoff over David Hearn, Robert Streb and Kevin Kisner.

A win on Sunday would mark a period of 6 years, 3 months, 26 days and 174 PGA Tour starts between victories.

Playing on a Minor Medical Extension with three tournaments remaining (including this week) to earn 289 FedExCup points (solo 2nd) to regain full Tour status, or 135 points (solo 4th) to play out of the 126-150 category for the remainder of the season.

Lee advanced to the FedExCup Playoffs in seven consecutive seasons before finishing No. 183 in 2020-21 season.

Currently ranked No. 314 in the Official World Golf Ranking having reached his high of No. 34 in 2016.

Lucas Herbert (3rd/-13) is making 19th start on Tour and first in Bermuda, posted back-to-back rounds of 65.

He finished T18 at 2021 the Memorial Tournament, his best result in 18 prior starts.

 

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The world No. 57 earned PGA Tour membership for this season via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, helped by a T4 finish at 2021 Albertsons Boise Open.

The Australian claimed his first title on European Tour in 2020, on Australia Day, defeating Christiaan Bezuidenhout in a playoff for the Omega Dubai Desert Classic; won his second European Tour title, on Independence Day, at the 2021 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

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