ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Maverick McNealy found his footing after a shaky start on Saturday, shooting a 4-under 66 to tie with Vince Whaley during a thrilling third round of the RSM Classic, where multiple players held at least a share of the lead.
As McNealy approached the final hole, he looked poised to take control but narrowly missed sinking a wedge shot that rolled just past the cup, ending up 8 feet away. His missed putt kept him in contention as he aims for his inaugural victory on the PGA Tour.
Whaley, who is also seeking his first win, turned in an impressive 63, including a birdie on the 18th hole, putting him in the final group for the first time in his career on this tour. Both players now share a score of 14-under 198, with McNealy having previously shared a similar position during the third round at the season’s outset in Napa, California, in 2021.
Whaley played with a sense of liberation that many might lack in this last PGA Tour event of the year. Having completed the necessary points for his medical extension last July, he focused on improving his FedEx Cup ranking. He secured a slot in the top 125 with a fifth-place tie at the Bermuda Championship last week, which means anything else this week would be icing on the cake, including a potential victory that could earn him spots in major tournaments like the Masters and PGA Championship, along with a two-year tour exemption.
“I truly have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I’m thrilled about this opportunity,” Whaley remarked.
As they head into the final round, the competition remains fierce. Daniel Berger shot a stunning 63 to position himself just two shots behind the leaders, joining forces with former Sea Island winner Mackenzie Hughes (65), Michael Thorbjornsen (67), and Patrick Fishburn (69) at the top of the leaderboard.
Both Berger and Thorbjornsen emerged at Sea Island seeking to place in the top 125; a critical milestone this year to maintain full tour status. While Thorbjornsen has solidified his position as the top player in the PGA Tour University ranking, Berger must prove himself worthy this week following a 19-month hiatus due to a serious back injury. Thankfully, he has made a powerful comeback, competing in 27 events this year.
“Regardless of how I play, I’ll navigate through it,” Berger stated. “After missing that much time, returning can take time and patience, but often good things come my way.”
Henrik Norlander and Hayden Springer, both looking to secure their places in the top 125, also excelled with rounds of 63, tying for 12th place.
Joel Dahmen, who narrowly made the cut with a tense 5-foot par putt on Friday, shot a 70 and is currently tied for 61st place. Ranked at No. 124, his future on the tour relies heavily on his performance on Sunday, alongside the results of Thorbjornsen, Berger, Norlander, and Springer.
At the summit of the leaderboard, eight players are within three shots of one another, including Luke Clanton, the top amateur worldwide and a sophomore at Florida State, who is in pursuit of yet another top-10 finish on the PGA Tour.