Matti Schmid will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Barbasol Championship as he goes in search of his first professional victory.
The German, who turned pro after finishing as low amateur at The 149th Open at Royal St George’s last year, followed up his second round 63 at Keene Trace Golf Club with a six under par 66, reaching a 22 under par total.
After a four-and-a-half hour rain delay on Saturday, the 24-year-old completed just three holes of his third round before play was suspended due to darkness in Kentucky. He parred his first three holes after returning to the course on Sunday morning, and then made five gains in a row from the seventh hole.
His seventh birdie of the round followed and the two-time European Amateur Champion recovered from a bogey on the 17th with a birdie on the 18th to pull two strokes clear.
“I hung in there this morning," Schmid said. "I got off to a pretty good start, especially around the turn and I played well coming in. The body is feeling pretty good so far.
“It was really good to get some momentum because I didn’t get off to a great start yesterday but going into the (fourth) round like this is huge – especially for confidence. The course is still playing soft and is pretty gettable, so I’ve got to make birdies."
The body is feeling pretty good so far - Matti Schmid
Schmid’s compatriot Hurly Long is in hot pursuit after carding ten birdies to sign for a nine under par third round of 63. The 26-year-old’s last professional win came at the 2020 Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil on the European Challenge Tour.
“I’m very happy with that," Long said. "I played quite well and made some putts. It was a long day yesterday, a long day before, and a long day today but it has been fun so far.
“I’m just going to control what I can control. I’m going to go out and play as well as I can and we’ll see what happens.
“I’ve played consistently the last few months but not too many low (rounds). I had a few at the beginning of the year, but it's nice to get out there and make some birdies."
In a share of third on 19 under par are the American pair of Trey Mullinax and Kevin Streelman, and on 18 under are Sean O’Hair, of the United States, and Canadian Adam Svensson.
The fourth round of the began at 10:40am local time, with the final group teeing off at 12:50pm. There has been no redraw for the final round.
The winner of the Barbasol Championship will receive exemptions on both the DP World Tour and PGA TOUR and will also earn the final place at The 150th Open at St Andrews through The Open Qualifying Series.
