Si Woo Kim of South Korea is in a familiar position, on top of the leaderboard in the Wyndham Championship.
The 25-year-old Kim, who claimed his first PGA Tour victory in the 2016 Wyndham, shot 8-under-par 62 in the third round to take a two-stroke lead over Rob Oppenheim and Doc Redman at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.
Tee times were moved up several hours and the players started on both nines in threesomes because of inclement weather that was expected later in the day.
“I feel like pretty similar this year (to 2016),” said Kim, who had a 60 during that win and whose only other PGA Tour victory came in the 2017 Players Championship. “This time, I already win two times, so that’s the good experience for me.”
Kim, who tied for 13th in the PGA Championship last week, kick-started his round by making a hole with an 8-iron on the 181-yard third hole and added seven birdies, lipping out what would have been another ace at No. 12 while posting a 54-hole total of 18-under 192.
Oppenheim, who at age 40 has nine pro victories but none on the PGA Tour, sank a 15-foot eagle putt at No. 5 en route to another 62, while Redman collected eight birdies in a 63.
Oppenheim, whose biggest victory came in the 2015 Air Capital Classic on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour, said he would try “to draw back on some of those times when I’ve had some important rounds and got it done.”
Redman, 22, who has never won as a pro but captured the 2017 U.S. Amateur, said: “I think (I’m) just allowing myself to play great, not letting myself get ahead of myself.”
Billy Horschel, who was tied for the lead after two rounds, carded a 65 with two birdies on the last three holes and is three shots back in solo fourth, while Jim Herman made bogey on the first hole but then rattled off 10 birdies to post a 61 that equaled the low round of the day and is one more down in a tie for fourth with Mark Hubbard, who had a 64 with six birdies on the back nine.
“I struggled a bit yesterday, so I just got a good night’s sleep and came out today just hitting fairways and greens,” said Herman, 42, who has won twice on the PGA Tour, including the 2019 Barbasol Championship. “I love coming here, I’ve had good results, and I’ll be looking for more of the same tomorrow.”
Sixth-ranked Webb Simpson, the 2011 Wyndham champion, recorded a 65 and is five strokes back in a tie for seventh with Peter Malnati, who had a 64, while two-time major champion Zach Johnson matched Herman’s 61 and is six behind in a tie for ninth with Harold Varner III (67), Talor Gooch (68), Kevin Kisner (65) and Tyler Duncan (66)
Ninth-ranked Patrick Reed, the 2013 Wyndham champion, is tied for 18th after a 67, while reigning Open champion Shane Lowry of Ireland shot 67 and is tied for 23rd.
This is the final event before the playoffs start next week in The Northern Trust at TPC Boston, and players are battling to improve their position in the FedEx Cup standings or simply get into the top 125 to make the field for the opener.
For compete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html
