After matching the course record of 8-under 62 during Round Two (Scottie Scheffler/2021/R2), Tony Finau (1st/-15) followed with 2-under 68 and entered the final round of the Cadence Bank Houston Open with a four-stroke lead.
His 195 (-15) ties the 54-hole scoring record at the Houston Open (Curtis Strange/1980); recorded most birdies of any player through 54 holes (18).
Related: Houston a milestone in Carl Yuan’s rookie year on PGA Tour
Finau is 1-for-6 with the 54-hole lead/co-lead on TOUR.
In his only previous start this season, Finau missed last week’s cut at World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba.
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Finau (No. 15) entered this week as the third highest-ranked player in the field behind No. 2 Scottie Scheffler (T25) and No. 12 Sam Burns (WD).
He is seeking his fifth PGA TOUR victory in his 218th start.
Ben Taylor (2nd/-11) is in search of his first career TOUR title in his 45th start (best: T20/2021 Barbasol Championship).
He seeks to become the first first-time PGA TOUR winner this season and eighth player to make the Cadence Bank Houston Open his first career TOUR title since 2000 (most recent: Carlos Ortiz/2020).
Taylor recorded two runner-up finishes, including one in the regular season finale, on the Korn Ferry Tour last season to secure a return to the PGA TOUR.
Previously graduated via the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Finals and played the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons on TOUR.
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Through 54 holes, 10-time PGA TOUR winner and 2018 FedEx Cup champion Justin Rose (T3/-8) is 8-under on the front nine and even on the back nine; making seventh tournament appearance and first since 2018 (best: T14/2010).
Ryan Armour (T20/-4) made a hole-in-one at No. 7, a 169-yard par 3 for his second ace on TOUR and first since the 2020 Rocket Mortgage Classic.
