Moving day yielded two new leaders as Frenchman Paul Barjon and Lee Hodges leapfrogged their way into the lead Saturday after three rounds of The American Express at La Quinta, Calif.
Both playing together on the Stadium Course, Hodges fired an 8-under 64 and Barjon 65 to share the lead at 18 under overall heading into Sunday’s final round. Hodges rose 11 spots while Barjon jumped seven spots.
Tom Hoge (68, La Quinta C.C.) sits alone in third one stroke back. Seamus Power (66, La Quinta C.C.) is alone in fourth at 16 under, two shots back.
Six players are bunched in a tie for fifth, three shots back at 15 under.
The 36-hole leader, Patrick Cantlay, dropped 10 spots to T11 after a 72.
Hodges posted a clean round with six birdies on his back nine en route to eight for the round.
“It was a great day,” Hodges said. “Hit the ball really well, I know it was really nice to see some putts fall on that back nine. I think I made three nice putts in a row there from like 10 to 12. And then just kind of really hit some quality shots coming in to give myself some easy birdies.”
Barjon, also starting on the back nine on the Stadium Course, also carded eight birdies against one bogey on the par-3 17th.
Barjon will have a familiar face for the final 18 on Sunday.
“It was great playing with Lee again for the third day,” Barjon said. “He played really good the first day, really kind of set the tone by making pretty much everything he looked at on the green. So that’s always good to see and just kind of get inspired by that and trying to make as many putts as we could the last three days and we made quite a few, so we’re going to try to keep it going tomorrow.”
World No. 1 Jon Rahm jumped 17 spots up the leaderboard to give himself an outside shot on Sunday. Rahm posted a 67 on the Stadium Course to sit in a T15 at 13 under, five shots back.
Everyone will play the Stadium Course on Sunday.
–Field Level Media