Chasing the first PGA Tour victory of his career, Justin Lower shot a third-round 63 to forge a three-way tie atop the leaderboard at the World Wide Technology Championship on Saturday in Los Cabos, Mexico.
With a bogey-free, 9-under-par round, Lower equaled the best 18-hole score of his career, and is joined at 16-under 200 by Carson Young (67 on Saturday) and second-round co-leader Colombia’s Nico Echavarria (68).
Lower, 35, was in 14th place entering Saturday at El Cardonal at Diamante, but posted the round of the day with seven birdies and capped it with an eagle on the par-5 18th hole.
“The big thing about 18 is I think just getting it in play off the tee,” said Lower, making his 94th career start on the PGA Tour. “If you can avoid both the bunkers, you’ll have a chance. … I don’t know where it landed, but it ended up maybe 10, 11 feet from it. I luckily got a read on the putt from (Kevin) Streelman, so worked out.”
Ranked 95th in the FedEx Cup Fall standings entering the event, Lower is projected to rise to No. 59, which is significant since players ranked No. 51-60 at the end of the fall qualify for the first two signature events of 2025.
“I mean, there’s 18 holes tomorrow on a very score-able golf course,” he said. “I think the wind’s going to stay down again, so I have to go out and basically shoot probably somewhere between 5 and 9 under again. … If the wind’s down, scores are going to be low. Yeah, a win would mean everything. I still have a job to do.”
Meanwhile, Young is also in pursuit of his first PGA Tour win and moved up two spots with six birdies, including one on No. 18, to offset a bogey on the par-4 7th hole.
“It seemed like a whole different golf course today,” said the 29-year-old Young, playing in his 64th PGA Tour event. “The wind blowing in a little bit different direction so it was a challenge, but I still played really solid, hit a lot of good iron shots and made some random long putts which helped keep the momentum going for the round. Just happy I had a good finish there.”
Echavarria, 30, posted another bogey-free round, notching four birdies along the way, to maintain a share of the lead as he eyes his third PGA Tour victory and second in back-to-back starts as he captured the ZOZO Championship on Oct. 27.
The win would be huge for the Colombian as he would move from No. 65 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings to No. 51, which if it stands would qualify him for the first two signature events of 2025.
“Living the right life,” he said. “It’s been — yeah, it’s been good golf, it’s been solid. Played very smart today. … So kept myself in there and, hopefully, we can keep it going one more day.”
Max Greyserman, who held a share of the second-round lead, is among a trio of players one shot back at 15-under 201 following a third-round 69. Joe Highsmith (65 on Saturday) and Austin Eckroat (66) are also 15 under.
Several others, including Ben Griffin (66 on Saturday) and Maverick McNealy (67), who are tied for seventh at 14 under, are a few shots off the pace and within striking distance.
