PGA Tour: Brendon Todd leads packed leaderboard at John Deere Classic
Brendon Todd 2023
American Brendon Todd has a one-stroke lead after the third round of the John Deere Classic, where no less than 15 players are within four shots of the lead.
The final round of the 2023 John Deere classic promises to be a blockbuster finish.
Todd fired a five-under 66 around TPC Deere Run on Saturday, enough to move him to 16 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of fellow countrymen Denny McCarthy, Alex Smalley and Adam Schenk.
Todd enjoyed a fast start, rolling in an eagle on the par-five second after a superb approach shot. Steady golf saw ten consecutive pars before a flurry of late birdies moved him up the busy leaderboard. The Pennsylvania native grabbed the outright lead when he drained a 45-footer on the par three 16th.
The 37-year-old, who last won the 2019 Mayakoba Golf Classic, was philosophical about Sunday's challenge.
"In a sense, it's not up to me if I win," Todd told
pgatour.com.
"I will go out and play the best I can. If someone shoots another 62, they'll probably win. If I shoot 62, then I'll probably win. If I have some great things happen, then I think I'll have a chance."
That 62 Todd referred to came from challenger Smalley, whose sizzling nine under was the round of the day.
Meanwhile, McCarthy is still hunting his first PGA Tour victory and knows consistency will eventually earn him that glorious Sunday silverware.
"I know it's going to come," quipped the 30-year-old.
"I'm playing a lot of good golf, and I keep putting myself in this spot. It's not easy to win golf tournaments. A lot of the top guys out here make it look really easy but it's really not. You have to have a lot of things go your way on top of playing really good golf. It hasn't matched up for me yet, but I know it's coming."
Further down the leaderboard, Peter Kuest is alone in fifth on 14 under, while Sweden's Jonas Blixt leads a plethora of players locked on 13 under heading into what promises to be a thrilling final round.
