Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry Lead the Butterfield Bermuda Championship
Amidst strong winds, Adam Schenk achieved a bogey-free round with a 67 (-4), allowing him to share the lead with Braden Thornberry in the exciting Butterfield Bermuda Championship, a crucial competition in the quest for a PGA Tour card. Thornberry, a PGA Tour rookie who won the NCAA title eight years ago, signed a card of 69, matching Schenk at -12 (201) entering the final round, with little room for error. Schenk and Thornberry, along with other prominent players, are in a pressure situation, as they are outside the top 100 in the FedEx Cup, and time is running out. The RSM Classic in Sea Island next week will mark the end of the season, where the top 100 players will earn their cards. Schenk, ranked 134th, has made adjustments to his game in recent months, which has given him positive results at Port Royal. Despite not having won in 242 PGA Tour starts, he now has an unexpected opportunity.Thornberry, in 178th place, needs a win to secure his card, which would grant him a two-year exemption. The competition is fierce, with Canada’s Adam Hadwin, who led after 36 holes, tied for third after a round of 71. Max McGreevy (69), Chandler Phillips (70), and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya (66) are also staying close. Rikuya Hoshino, with a 67, is two strokes off the lead. Vince Whaley, with a 68, is the only player three strokes off the lead who isn’t facing as much pressure, as he is 86th in the FedEx Cup and has a high probability of staying in the top 100. The constant wind has added difficulty to the tournament. Thornberry highlighted the importance of taking advantage of the favorable wind and resisting when it is not. An example was hole 16, a par 3 of 124 yards.A great opportunity for tomorrow. I know that if I don’t make it, I’ll have to go to qualifying school if I don’t get into the top 100, so that’s a great motivator.
Adam Schenk
Schenk, who in 2023 demonstrated the ability of players to enter major events without winning, managed to reach the Tour Championship and qualify for all the 2024 majors. Now, the 33-year-old player from Indiana feels optimistic about the changes made in September.I tried a chip with a 6 iron, the wind changed. There are shots like that so you have to accept that they are not going to end up near the hole even if you make a good swing. Just try to fight, that’s really the key to everything.
Braden Thornberry
I wish I could have done this earlier in the season, because I wouldn’t be in this position, but here we are. And if I can make some putts tomorrow, it’s difficult to do with the wind, maybe play another bogey-free round, that would be incredible.
Adam Schenk
