Justin Suh shot a 67 on Saturday to move into the top spot at the Zozo Championship in Chiba, Japan, the first time he’s held the 54-hole lead or co-lead of a PGA Tour event.
Suh, a 26-year-old Californian, stands at 9-under 201 and is seeking his first career win. To achieve it, he’ll have to hold off a pack of Americans right behind him. Eric Cole (66 on Saturday) and second-round leader Beau Hossler (69) are one shot back, and two-time majors winner Collin Morikawa (66) trails Suh by two strokes.
This is new territory for Suh, who a year ago was the player of the year on the Korn Ferry Tour. He has two Top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a tie for sixth at The Players Championship in March.
“I think the experience of the Korn Ferry Tour was huge, and I think throughout this year I’ve put myself in this position a few times in some big tournaments,” he said. “Every week you put yourself in this position you learn a little more.”
Suh posted three birdies in his first eight holes Saturday at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club, and in all, he had five birdies and two bogeys. The biggest putt of the day come on the par-3 No. 16 when he drained a birdie putt that was close to 40 feet.
He has shot par or better in 11 consecutive rounds.
Suh will be paired with Cole and Hossler in the final group, with his playing partners also in search of their maiden tour victories, as Morikawa lurks. Morikawa is looking for his sixth PGA Tour victory but first since the 2021 DP World Tour Championship.
Morikawa’s 66 on Saturday was not without its challenges. He opened with a double bogey on No. 1 and bogeyed the par-4 No. 4 to fall nine off the pace through five holes. But birdies at Nos. 6-8 and Nos. 13-16 helped to turn around Morikawa’s round.
“I knew there were a lot of holes (remaining),” said Morikawa, whose eight birdies tied for most on the round. “I just knew I was still hitting my irons good. I just had to give myself opportunities. Just seeing good shots, seeing quality shots going forward, that’s important.
“I’ve seen that the past couple days — even though yesterday was a bad score — and I just kept my head down and kept grinding at it.”
Emiliano Grillo of Argentina (68) and Satoshi Kodaira (69) of Japan are 6-under for the tournament and tied for fifth, four shots off the lead. Kurt Kitayama shot a 64, the day’s low round, to move up 21 places and into sole possession of seventh place.
–Field Level Media=