LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Taylor Pendrith birdied four of the last five holes in a six-under par 66 on Saturday to head into the final round of the PGA Tour Rocket Mortgage Classic tied for the lead alongside Tony Finau.
Canada’s Pendrith, chasing a first US PGA Tour title, started the day with a one-shot lead. He had eight birdies to overcome a pair of bogeys in a six-under par 66 that pulled him level with Finau on 21-under par 195 at Detroit Golf Club.
The leading duo was four shots clear of its nearest rival, Cameron Young, who followed up his course record-equaling 63 of Friday with a seven-under par 65 for 199.
“Obviously he made a ton of birdies and I finished the round with a lot of birdies, so it was fun,” Pendrith said of his pairing with Finau.
“We were going back and forth. Tony bombs it off the tee and I hit it far as well, so it was fun, kind of similar games I guess, and we attacked it very well.”
Finau, seeking his second title in as many weeks after his victory in the 3M Open last Sunday, had seven birdies, the first a 20-footer at the second hole.
Birdies at the third seventh and eighth saw him make the turn at 18-under, and he added three more coming in at the 10th, 14th and 17th.
Finau had a chance to maintain a one-shot lead at the last hole, but couldn’t get his six-foot birdie putt to drop.
Pendrith, meanwhile, drained a nine-footer to cap a late surge that started with a 15-foot birdie at the 14th.
