Hughes keeps his poise and lead at RSM Classic

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia — Mackenzie Hughes atoned for a triple bogey that cost him the lead by making a tough par save and three birdies Saturday for a 2-under 68, giving the Canadian rookie a one-shot advantage going into the RSM Classic final round.

Next up at Sea Island is 18 holes in the final group with Billy Horschel and Camilo Villegas.

Five events into his rookie season, the 25-year-old Hughes showed plenty of poise. He had gone bogey-free for the first 46 holes of the tournament when he tried to do too much from an awkward lie in fairway bunker on No. 11. The ball stayed in the bunker in a depressed lie, and he compounded his mistakes by dumping his third shot into another bunker, and then threeputting when he finally reached the green.

He followed with perhaps his most important shot of the tournament, a pitch from 50 feet over a steep slope to a back pin to tapin range to save par. He added three birdies with his smooth putting stroke to reach 16-under 196.

Horschel, who hasn’t won since the Tour Championship two years ago when he captured the FedEx Cup, holed a 10-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the Seaside course at Sea Island for a 65. Villegas overcame a double bogey early in his round and finished with four straight birdies for a 64.

Joining them at 15-under 197 was another PGA Tour rookie, C.T. Pan of Taiwan. He shot a 67 playing in the final group.