Playing in the final group of the day, Buchanan entered today’s third round with a two-shot lead over Cooper Jones of Highland, Utah, and Jayden Ford of New Zealand. He quickly picked up where he left off yesterday, building on his lead by torching the golf course with five birdies, one eagle, and no bogeys in his first eleven holes.
Things would come back to earth a little bit for Buchanan down the home stretch. He double-bogeyed the 370-yard par-4 No. 12 and carded one more birdie and two bogeys in his final four holes to finish his day at 4-under.
Buchanan will be joined by fellow countryman Jeffrey Guan and 19-year-old Cooper Jones in the final group during tomorrow’s round. Guan and Jones both sit three shots off the pace, well within striking distance of the lead.
Aidan Thomas of Albuquerque, N.M., shot the low round of the day and matched the low round of the championship with a 6-under 64. He climbed 25 spots on the leaderboard to finish the day at T41.
Five of the seven Australians in the field are in the top 25 after three rounds: Jack Buchanan, Jeffrey Guan, Connor Fewkes, Josh Greer, and Jye Pickin.
36 players shot under par rounds today. The field finished with a 70.54 scoring average on the par-70 golf course.
The 445-yard par-4 first hole was the hardest hole in round three with a scoring average of 4.47.The par-5 481-yard third hole played as the easiest hole in round three.
The short, scoreable hole finished with a scoring average of just 4.33 strokes and saw four eagles and 47 birdies.
