Doc Redman has tamed strong winds to card a four-under par 67 in the Bermuda Championship third round on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead as he guns for his first PGA Tour win.
Redman, the 2017 US Amateur champion, is among 10 players separated by four shots who have never won on the PGA Tour. A victory on Sunday comes with an invitation to the Masters next April.
"I feel like with the wind switching, it was a little easier," Redman said.
"And it was still really windy. But yesterday was incredible. We couldn't have been far away from stopping play yesterday.
"That made it a little easier. And the greens roll great, so if you have looks at it you can make birdies."
The 22-year-old waved to cheering fans after he coolly sank a long birdie putt on the par-three 16th to take the lead at 10-under. The tournament is the first PGA Tour event to allow spectators since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"It's very exciting to be here. I've had a lot of good results recently and it's just exciting to have a chance," Redman said.
Fellow Americans Ryan Armour (70), Wyndham Clark (70) and Kramer Hickok (69) all lurk one stroke off the lead at nine-under, with Australia's Matt Jones (66) tying for fifth with Brian Gay (67) and Ollie Schniederjans (69) at eight-under.
Jones's fellow Aussies, John Senden (69) and Cameron Percy (71) are tied at 36th and 48th respectively.
The strong winds that hit the seaside Port Royal Golf Course on Friday were somewhat weaker on Saturday but still managed to play havoc at times, including a strong gust on the par-four ninth that contributed to Redman's lone bogey of the day.
Redman, who had five birdies on Saturday, said he did not plan to change his routine heading into Sunday's final round.
"Just get a good meal, get some rest and tomorrow's just like any other round, I'm just in a slightly different position," he said.
"But that's not going to change anything."
Australian Associated Press
