ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -- Five-time PGA Tour winner Jonathan Byrd shot a 7-under 64 in rainy, windy conditions Saturday to take the third-round lead in the Web.com Tour Championship.
Needing a high finish to regain his PGA Tour card, Byrd had a 20-under 193 total at Atlantic Beach Country Club for a two-stroke lead over Sam Saunders in the last of four Web.com Tour Finals events.
Byrd finished 55th on the Web.com Tour's regular-season money list and 170th in the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup standings. He entered the week 66th in the race for 25 cards with $5,480.
"I was telling myself, 'I'm a clutch putter, and I've made a lot of clutch putts over the year,'" Byrd said. "I just felt good out there. I felt at ease. When you feel that way, you're kind of letting it come to you, you're not working hard to make putts. You're just kind of letting it happen, and that's kind of the way I felt."
Saunders, Arnold Palmer's grandson, had a 70 two days after shooting a 59 on his home course. He was 129th in the FedEx Cup and began the week 24th with $27,900.
Saunders three-putted the par-5 18th for a bogey after closing with a double-bogey Friday.
"That putt right there, it's a bummer, but in the scheme of 18 holes, it's irrelevant," Saunders said." There's a lot of golf left, and I played solid today. I missed a lot of really short putts, which is weird. I've been putting solid all week. I've just got to work that out and tomorrow not do it, and I'll be fine."
Cameron Tringale was third at 17 under after a 65. He was 133rd in the FedEx Cup and 49th in the card race with $10,944.
The winner Sunday will get $180,000.
