Baycurrent Classic Round 3: Brennan, Bridgeman and Bauchou Share the Lead as Adam Scott Lurks One Back

Three players share the lead. Eight are within a shot. One of them is Adam Scott, chasing a first PGA TOUR win in six years with two eagles in his pocket. If you wanted a clean storyline heading into Sunday in Yokohama, Saturday did not supply one.

Michael Brennan (65), Jacob Bridgeman (69) and rookie Zach Bauchou (67) are tied at 13-under 200 after three rounds of the Baycurrent Classic at Yokohama Country Club. One shot back at 12 under is a crowd: Adam Scott (65), Justin Thomas (67), Keith Mitchell, Stephan Jaeger and Jordan Smith. Ryan Gerard, Mac Meissner and Max Homa are three back at 10 under.

Brennan Closes Hard

Brennan started the day four shots off the pace and finished it with a share of the lead, and the finish is what got him there. Brennan made four birdies over the last six holes, per Golf Digest, turning a solid round into the low score among the leaders.

It is a familiar spot for the 24-year-old. Brennan won the Bank of Utah Championship as a sponsor invite a year ago and added the Wyndham Championship in August. On a leaderboard stuffed with names that have more experience, Brennan has already shown he knows what to do with a Sunday tee time near the top.

Bridgeman Hangs On

Bridgeman has now led or co-led after every round this week, and Saturday was the least comfortable of the three. A 2-under 69 kept Bridgeman in the tie, but two bogeys over the last three holes, per Golf Digest, let the field back in.

"I'm pleased that I shot two under, I feel like I didn't play very good today," Bridgeman said, per Golf Digest.

Bridgeman told Golf Digest that putting speed was a problem, with too many long comebacks, but also said the nerves were not an issue. That matters. The player who made the clinching putt at the Presidents Cup two weeks ago does not look rattled by the view from the top of a leaderboard.

Bauchou's Bumpy Finish

Bauchou was the story at Black Desert last week after an opening 62, and the rookie has kept the momentum across the Pacific. A 67 on Saturday was good enough for a share of the 54-hole lead, though it could have been better. Bauchou dropped three shots over the last five holes, according to Golf Digest.

For a rookie chasing FedExCup position in the Fall, sleeping on a share of the lead in the strongest field of the stretch is a big deal regardless of how the round ended.

Scott Rolls Back the Years

The loudest round of the day belonged to Scott, who shot a bogey-free 6-under 65 with two eagles, at the sixth and the ninth, according to Golf Digest. Scott told Golf Digest that a hole-out and a pitch-in made for some fun out there, which is one way to describe going 4 under on two holes.

Scott was candid with Golf Digest about how long it has been since a PGA TOUR trophy, calling it about six years and admitting to frustration over the drought. As for Sunday, Scott sounded content with the position.

"It's not a bad spot to be a few back. Hopefully we'll be in for a great day," Scott said, per the AP.

Thomas and the Chase Pack

Thomas shot 67 to move into the tie at 12 under with Scott. Asked by reporters why Asia seems to suit Thomas so well, Thomas offered a shrug of an answer, per Golf Digest: "I wish I knew."

Mitchell, who shared the 36-hole lead, slipped a shot off the pace after a 70 and is still very much in it. Jaeger and Smith, the Englishman who has spent two weeks hovering near the top of TOUR leaderboards, are in the same group.

Defending champion Xander Schauffele is four back at 9 under alongside Brian Harman, which is not out of it on a course where 65 is available, but it is a long way to climb.

Sunday Setup

Eight players within one shot. Three co-leaders with very different résumés: a two-time winner in Brennan, a Presidents Cup closer in Bridgeman and a rookie in Bauchou. Scott one back and hunting a first PGA TOUR title in six years, with Thomas right alongside.

The FedExCup Fall stakes run through the whole board, from rookies trying to secure status to veterans trying to secure a spot in the early Signature Events. Sunday at Yokohama is wide open, and the first player to get hot on the back nine may be the one who walks away with it.

Catch up on Round 1 and Round 2. Full scoring is on the official PGA TOUR tournament page (opens in a new tab), and the TOUR's Round 3 recap (opens in a new tab) has more.

Sources: PGA TOUR (Round 3 recap and AP story on pgatour.com), Golf Digest. More golf coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: PGA TOUR.