Patrick Rodgers’ first pro tournament was the 2013 John Deere Classic and now he would like to claim his first PGA Tour victory in the event.
Rodgers, the former Stanford All-American, carded a 3-under-par 68 and holds a two-stroke lead over Daniel Berger and Scott Stallings heading to the final round at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
“This is a course where it’s nice to play with the lead, because you have to stay aggressive,” said Rodgers, whose only pro victory came in the 2016 Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship on the Web.com Tour. “I know that’s what I have to do tomorrow.
“I have to go back out there and make birdies. I’ve been going at the flags aggressively and I have to keep playing that way. I know that 17-under-par is not going to win the tournament.
“It’s going to be a shootout because there’s a lot of birdies to be made out here, and I’m going to have to make my fair share in order to stay at the top.”
Rodgers held a three-stroke lead until making a bogey on the 15th hole and finished 54 holes at 16-under 197.
Berger, who repeated as champion in the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis last month and lost to Jordan Spieth in a playoff at the Travelers Championship in his last start, birdied seven of his first 11 holes while carding a 63, and Stallings sank a 22-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole in a bogey-free 64.
“In Memphis I drove the ball phenomenally,” said Berger, who is ninth in the FedExCup standings. “This week I haven’t driven it that well, but I’ve kind of kept it in play for the most part and I’ve made a bunch of putts, which has been the difference.”
Nicholas Lindheim is three shots behind in solo fourth after a second straight 66 that included a six-foot eagle putt at No. 17, while Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Sante Fe and USC also had a 66 and is one more back in a tie for fifth with J.J. Henry, who had an 11-foot eagle putt at No. 2, and Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, who wound up at 70.
Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere champion, carded a 70 and is five down in a tie for eighth with 2007 Deere winner Jonathan Byrd (67), Vaughn Taylor (65), Brian Campbell (66), Rick Lamb (63), Trey Mullinax (66), Rory Sabbatini (67) of South Africa, Kevin Tway (69), Charles Howell III (70) and Chesson Hadley (69).
Brian Harmon, the 2014 John Deere champ, is tied for 18th after a 63, three-time tournament winner and local favorite Steve Stricker shot 65 and is tied for 35th, while amateur Maverick McNealy of Stanford is tied for 44th after a 69.
Patrick Rodgers’ first pro tournament was the 2013 John Deere Classic and now he would like to claim his first PGA Tour victory in the event.
Rodgers, the former Stanford All-American, carded a 3-under-par 68 and holds a two-stroke lead over Daniel Berger and Scott Stallings heading to the final round at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
“This is a course where it’s nice to play with the lead, because you have to stay aggressive,” said Rodgers, whose only pro victory came in the 2016 Pacific Rubiales Colombia Championship on the Web.com Tour. “I know that’s what I have to do tomorrow.
“I have to go back out there and make birdies. I’ve been going at the flags aggressively and I have to keep playing that way. I know that 17-under-par is not going to win the tournament.
“It’s going to be a shootout because there’s a lot of birdies to be made out here, and I’m going to have to make my fair share in order to stay at the top.”
Rodgers held a three-stroke lead until making a bogey on the 15th hole and finished 54 holes at 16-under 197.
Berger, who repeated as champion in the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis last month and lost to Jordan Spieth in a playoff at the Travelers Championship in his last start, birdied seven of his first 11 holes while carding a 63, and Stallings sank a 22-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole in a bogey-free 64.
“In Memphis I drove the ball phenomenally,” said Berger, who is ninth in the FedExCup standings. “This week I haven’t driven it that well, but I’ve kind of kept it in play for the most part and I’ve made a bunch of putts, which has been the difference.”
Nicholas Lindheim is three shots behind in solo fourth after a second straight 66 that included a six-foot eagle putt at No. 17, while Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Sante Fe and USC also had a 66 and is one more back in a tie for fifth with J.J. Henry, who had an 11-foot eagle putt at No. 2, and Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, who wound up at 70.
Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere champion, carded a 70 and is five down in a tie for eighth with 2007 Deere winner Jonathan Byrd (67), Vaughn Taylor (65), Brian Campbell (66), Rick Lamb (63), Trey Mullinax (66), Rory Sabbatini (67) of South Africa, Kevin Tway (69), Charles Howell III (70) and Chesson Hadley (69).
Brian Harmon, the 2014 John Deere champ, is tied for 18th after a 63, three-time tournament winner and local favorite Steve Stricker shot 65 and is tied for 35th, while amateur Maverick McNealy of Stanford is tied for 44th after a 69.
