Seamus Power battled through challenging, windy conditions at Port Royal Golf Course on Saturday to join Austin Smotherman at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Power carded a four-under-par 67 to reach 16 under overall, recovering a two-shot deficit over the closing holes to draw level with Smotherman, who posted a five-under-par 66.
Smotherman showed composure in the difficult conditions, finishing his round with a crucial 10-foot par putt as he sought to avoid unnecessary mistakes in the strong Bermuda winds.
The leading pair hold a two-shot advantage over the chasing group, which includes American Taylor Moore and Canadians Corey Conners and Ben Silverman, all tied at 14 under par. Moore carded a 66, while Conners and Silverman each returned rounds of 69.
Power believes the forecast for further strong winds on Sunday could work in his favour, as the conditions may make it more difficult for the chasing players to gain ground with birdies.
Despite the challenging weather, the tournament remains closely contested. Twelve players are within four shots of the leaders, setting up an exciting final round at Port Royal.
The shared lead also continues a recent trend at the event, with the tournament recording a tie at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round for the third consecutive year.
ADD A COMMENT :