SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda – Adam Schenk and Braden Thornberry lead the competition at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, in an exciting fight to secure a place on the PGA Tour. Schenk, with a bogey-free round and a 67 (-4) in windy conditions, and Thornberry, with a 69, are tied at the top with a cumulative score of 12 under par (201). The tension is palpable, as both players, along with eight others in the top 11 of the rankings, are outside the top 100 of the FedEx Cup, and time is running out. The RSM Classic at Sea Island next week will mark the end of the season, which awards cards to the top 100, instead of the top 125. Schenk, currently in 134th place, has made adjustments to his game in recent months, which has been positively reflected in Port Royal.
Thornberry, at 178th place, needs a win to secure his card, which would grant him a two-year exemption. The competition is fierce, with Adam Hadwin, who led after 36 holes, tied for third place alongside Max McGreevy, Chandler Phillips, and Takumi Kanaya. Rikuya Hoshino is two strokes off the lead. Vince Whaley, at 86th in the FedEx Cup, is the only player three strokes off the lead who seems assured of his place in the top 100. The constant wind adds pressure to the challenge of keeping the PGA Tour card. Thornberry highlights the importance of taking advantage of the favorable wind and resisting when it is not. Schenk, who managed to qualify for important events in 2023 without winning, feels optimistic after the changes made in September.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 motivation.
Adam Schenk
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
