Keith Mitchell shot a low-round 65 at the Country Club of Jackson and will enter Sunday’s finale of the Sanderson Farms Championship with a one-shot lead over Beau Hossler.
Entering the day two shots off the pace, the 32-year-old Tennessee native got off to a somewhat slow start but turned up the heat on the back nine, finishing with five birdies on his final eight holes, including back-to-back gains on Nos. 17 and 18, to reach 20 under.
“Consistent. Smooth I guess,” said Mitchell, who owns one career PGA Tour win (2019 Honda Classic).
“I definitely hit a few bad shots, and when I did, I just made sure I got it back in play and made par and tried to capitalize on the me that I had a good chance.
“The putt on 17 was just a huge bonus. Then I got a accident lie on 18 and hit a great shot.
“All in all, it started kind of slow and the last ten holes I was just able to capitalize a little bit more.”
One back was overnight leader Hossler, who offset a double bogey with 17 flawless holes, highlighted by a six-pack of birdies to settle on 19 under.
“Very, very good, minus about four minutes; made double on 12,” said Hossler, who is seeking his first PGA Tour win in his 200th start.
“But other than that it was pretty flawless. Was in play pretty good off the tee.
“Maybe didn’t drive it quite as well as I did the first two rounds, but was able to get a lot of looks at birdie and took care of the par-5s and the drivable hole, which is what I talked about yesterday being really important out here.”
Kevin Yu was one further back on 18 under following a third consecutive round of 66.
“Yeah, just do the same thing,” said Yu, when asked about his gameplan for Sunday’s finale.
“I feel like my strategy out here, it’s been great, it’s working out pretty good, and especially putting this week has been really good.
“Just I know I’m hitting good, and just tomorrow if I can translate, I know I can putt it well, too, so keeping that mindset in my mind and hopefully I can do it better for tomorrow, yeah.”
The trio of Bud Cauley (67), Lucas Glover (68) and Jacob Bridgeman (69) were joint-four on 16 under, one clear of Ryan Fox (68), Michael Thorbjornsen (69) and Daniel Berger (71), who were deadlocked in the seventh spot.
Seamus Power (69), Eric Cole (69) and Gary Woodland (70) were all 14 under and rounded out the top 10 leaders after 54 holes in Mississippi.
2024 Sanderson Farms Championship
Sanderson Farms Top 10: 54 Holes
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 3)
1. Keith Mitchell -20 (-7)
2. Beau Hossler -19 (-4)
3. Kevin Yu -18 (-6)
4. Bud Cauley -16 (-5)
4. Lucas Glover -16 (-4)
4. Jacob Bridgeman -16 (-3)
7. Ryan Fox -15 (-4)
7. Michael Thorbjornsen -15 (-3)
7. Daniel Berger -15 (-1)
10. Seamus Power -14 (-3)
10. Eric Cole -14 (-3)
10. Gary Woodland -14 (-2)
