Thompson Leads John Deere Classic After Thrilling Day

Davis Thompson Leads the John Deere Classic After an Exciting Day

SILVIS, Ill. – Davis Thompson positioned himself at the top of the John Deere Classic after a closely contested third round, thanks to a crucial birdie on the 18th hole that gave him a one-stroke lead. Thompson, with an impressive 10-foot putt, broke the tie involving ten players, showcasing his skill on a golf course that presented greater challenges on Saturday. His performance earned him a 4-under-par 67 card, reaching a total of 15-under-par 198. The competition is fierce, with Brian Campbell, Max Homa, Emiliano Grillo, and David Lipsky close behind, all with a score of 68. The leader of the first half of the tournament, Doug Ghim, experienced a difficult day, with two bogeys and no birdie scores in the last ten holes, which relegated him outside the top 20 positions. Thompson will seek to become the first player to win the John Deere Classic in consecutive years since Steve Stricker achieved three straight victories between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, a victory would secure him a place in the British Open.

“It’s good to have some momentum for tomorrow,” Thompson commented.

Davis Thompson

Camilo Villegas and Austin Eckroat are three strokes behind the leader, while Matt Kuchar and Auburn’s young player, Jackson Koivun, are four strokes behind. Of the top 14 players, only Lipsky, Koivun, and Kevin Roy haven’t won on the PGA Tour. Homa, for his part, seeks to recover from a period of low performance, having made changes to his team and coaches. Homa, who hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since January 2023, expressed his enthusiasm for the competition.

“Golf has been very boring for me this year. I haven’t had much stress, and you want to be stressed. So I hope to feel those butterflies in the morning; I look forward to the first tee shot,” Homa said. “It’s good to feel that again. It’s been a while.”

Max Homa

The course conditions were more challenging on Saturday, with firmer and faster greens due to the hot weather and wind. No player managed a score below 66 in the third round, unlike the first two rounds.

“Certainly, this makes Sunday fun when many guys have a chance,” Kuchar said.

Matt Kuchar

Koivun, with the possibility of emulating Nick Dunlap, who won The American Express last year as an amateur, seeks to make his mark on the tournament.

“Obviously, it’s very inspiring to see what he did about a year ago,” Koivun said. “Obviously, being one of the few [amateurs] to win a professional event would be great. At the end of the day, I just have to give my best and be happy with the result.”

Jackson Koivun