J.T. Poston shot 66 at TPC Summerlin and will enter Sunday’s finale of the Shriners Children’s Open in the pole position on 18 under, three clear of Doug Ghim.

Entering the round with a share of the lead at -13, the 31-year-old North Carolina native got off to a slow start with eight straight pars. Poston finally went in the red with an eagle on the par-5 ninth and then closed with three birdies on his final five holes to post the 54-hole target.

“Yeah, honestly just a good number,” said Poston when asked about the eagle on 9. “We had a little bit of hurt which we knew.

“It was a 3-wood so I was going to have to get it up in the air to try and stop it to keep it on the green. With it a little into the wind that definitely helped.

“It was a good number to hit just a perfect high cut 3-wood. It was a little right of where I was looking, but I knew I hit it good when I hit it and it was just a matter of trying to see how soft it would land.”

Three back was Ghim, who shot 64, highlighted by seven birdies including four in a row on Nos. 13-16 to reach 15 under.

“Yeah, obviously a very gettable stretch, and it’s been a lot nicer today, definitely a lot less wind in the afternoon for sure,” said Ghim, in reference to his four straight birdies.

“So, 13 playing downwind, 14 downwind, 15 downwind, 16 downwind, you’re going to have a lot of opportunities.

“It’s definitely how you hope to play them, and just fortunate enough to get the looks and actually convert.”

Overnight co-leader Matti Schmid struggled to a 70 and was among six players tied for third on 14 under.

Others in the T3 group included Kurt Kitayama (65), Gary Woodland (65), Alejandro Tosti (67), Taylor Pendrith (67) and Rico Hoey (69).

2024 Shriners Children’s Open

Top 10 Leaders: 54 Holes

Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 3)
1. J.T. Poston -18 (-5)
2. Doug Ghim -15 (-7)
3. Kurt Kitayama -14 (-6)
3. Gary Woodland -14 (-6)
3. Alejandro Tosti -14 (-4)
3. Taylor Pendrith -14 (-4)
3. Rico Hoey -14 (-2)
3. Matti Schmid -14 (-1)
9. KH Lee -13 (-6)
9. JJ Spaun -13 (-5)
9. Davis Thompson -13 (-5)
9. Matt Kuchar -13 (-4)
9. Scott Piercy -13 (-3)
9. Harris English -13 (-3)
9. Ryan McCormick -13 (-2)
9. Norman Xiong -13 (-1)

PGA Tour media press release and post-round notes used to compile recap.