- Aldrich Potgieter birdies six of the first eight holes.
- Potgieter leads the Rocket Classic with 19-under par 197.
- Potgieter aims for his first PGA title at age 20.
- Multiple golfers share second place, all within striking distance.
- Davis Thompson achieved three front-nine eagles for a strong finish.
Potgieter Takes Control Early in the Round
Aldrich Potgieter from South Africa has made waves on the green, taking a two-stroke lead in the Rocket Classic during the third round of the US PGA Tour. The 20-year-old golfer birdied six out of the first eight holes, finishing the day with a bogey-free seven-under-par score of 65. This brings him to a remarkable total of 19-under par 197 after 54 holes at the Detroit Golf Club, marking a significant performance so far in his quest for a first PGA title in just his 20th tour appearance.
Fierce Competition from Fellow Golfers
In his post-round comments, Potgieter expressed his excitement about being in contention, stating, “Being in contention is great. We’re looking forward to tomorrow and maybe trying to just keep the ball in front, what we did today, hit a little bit more fairways and greens and if that putter just stays hot it will be good.” Indeed, his solid play has him positioned well ahead of several competitors. Americans Max Greyserman, Chris Kirk, Andrew Putnam, Jake Knapp, and Mark Hubbard are all tied in second place at 199, closely followed by South African Thriston Lawrence and others.
Potgieter’s Impressive Birdie Run
Despite the close competition, Potgieter showcased a strong performance starting with his first birdie blasted from a bunker 35 feet away. Following up with a birdie at the fourth and then striking with eagle putts on the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth holes, he quickly found himself leading by three strokes. Jackson Suber made his own efforts, hitting back-to-back birdies at the ninth and tenth, but a bogey at the twelfth pushed him back. In the meantime, Knapp stole attention from Potgieter by matching his efforts while breaking the course record with a phenomenal round of 61 earlier in the tournament.
Thompson Shines with Back Nine Eagled
Davis Thompson also made a noteworthy entry into the tournament with a round that featured three eagle holes on the front nine, completing his day with a score of 202. Three eagles in the same nine holes is quite rare, and Thompson himself admitted after the round, “I don’t think I’ve ever had that. I’ve had three eagles in a round before, but I haven’t had it all in nine holes.” It’s shaping up to be an exciting final round with Potgieter holding the lead and a tightly packed leaderboard ready to make their moves as the tournament progresses.
As the Rocket Classic heads into its final round, Aldrich Potgieter stands out in the spotlight, poised to secure his first PGA Tour title. His remarkable ability to maintain focus and fire off impressive birdies has set him apart from the pack. The competition remains fierce, with several seasoned golfers nipping at his heels, but one thing is clear—tomorrow promises to be an exhilarating showdown on the course.
