Pierceson Coody carded a 4-under 68 on Saturday to remain atop the leaderboard after three rounds of the ISCO Championship in Nicholasville, Ky.
Coody led after the first and second rounds before collecting one eagle, five birdies and three bogeys on Saturday to move to 20-under 196 for the tournament. Englishman Harry Hall (64 on Saturday) and Rico Hoey of the Philippines (67) are tied for second, one shot off the lead.
Should Coody maintain his lead on Sunday, the 24-year-old would become the first wire-to-wire winner on the PGA Tour since Lee Hodges dominated the 3M Open back in 2023.
Coody had a rough start on Saturday, managing an even-par 36 through the front nine while recording all three of his bogeys.
But Coody settled down once he made the turn, recording a bogey-free back nine that was highlighted by his eagle at the par-5 11th. Coody added birdies at Nos. 15 and 17.
"I mean, obviously frustrated," Coody said of his first nine holes. "But the more I kind of dwell on it and let myself fall into that frustration, I don't think I would have bounced back the way I did."
England's Sam Bairstow had the low round of the day with a 10-under 62, moving him 45 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for fourth with Neal Shipley (66) and Johannes Veerman (67).
Bairstow finished with 10 birdies, rattling off six in a row from Nos. 10-15.
"Hit wedge close on 10, tap-in. On 11 hit the green in two, two-putt. Holed a putt on 12 that you probably shouldn't hole," Bairstow said. "Yeah, and 13 was just a good wedge, 14 was a good iron shot and then 15 just a standard birdie really on the par 5."
Lanto Griffin (67) and Chez Reavie (69) are tied for seventh, three strokes back. Seven golfers are tied for ninth at 16 under.
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