Taylor Pendrith leads Byron Nelson seeking his first PGA Tour victory

Taylor Pendrith has been here before — holding or sharing a lead after three rounds on the PGA Tour.

The Canadian was one of six among the top 10 on the leaderboard seeking a first tour victory at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.

Pendrith chipped in twice for consecutive eagles to kick-start an 8-under 63 on Saturday for a one-shot lead over second-round leader Jake Knapp.

“I have no idea,” Pendrith said when asked if he'd ever had back-to-back eagles, which came on the par-5 fifth and par-4 sixth holes as he finished at 19-under 194. “I don't think so. Maybe a first.”

It was the third time on the PGA Tour this season, and vaulted him ahead of Knapp. Pendrith's lead was two before Knapp birdied the par-5 18th for a 67.

Ben Kohles (65) and first-round leader Matt Wallace (67) were two shots off the lead, one stroke ahead of Alex Noren and Kelly Kraft, playing near his Dallas home at the TPC Craig Ranch in the suburb of McKinney.

Troy Merritt, the only two-time PGA Tour winner among the top 10, shot 70 and was at 14 under with three others, including one-time winner Kevin Tway. The son of 1986 PGA Championship winner Bob Tway shot 64, while Vince Whaley and Byeong Hun An each shot 66.

Wallace and Knapp, a rookie won won the Mexico Open in February, are the others with PGA Tour victories.

Pendrith settled for second from the top of the third-round leaderboard at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2022. He was in the same position at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship earlier that season before a 76 left him in a tie for fifth.

“I think just stay patient and play my own game and don't get ahead of myself,” Pendrith said. “Make as many birdies as you can, because I think it'll take a low one tomorrow.”

Pendrith was working on a low one after a 26-foot chip shot rolled around the hole and went in, then a 41-yarder bounced about 25 feet from the hole and rolled in with almost perfect speed.

The 32-year-old who has won twice on the Canadian tour is 7 under on those two holes. They were the first two of five consecutive birdies in the second round.

Knapp was coming off consecutive 64s and had his second bogey-free round with a pair of birdies on each nine.