On a day when big names took center stage (Jordan Spieth in Australia, Henrik Stenson in Dubai), it was a little-known Canadian named Mackenzie Hughes who maintained his one-stroke lead stateside at the RSM Classic in Sea Island Georgia. Hughes overcame a triple-bogey with five birdies and shot a 70 to take a narrow one-stroke margin over Camilo Villegas, Billy Horschel and Cheng Tsung Pan into the final round.

Hughes also led going into Round 3. His triple-bogey is his only hole over par for the week. It came on the 11th hole. It was ugly (most triple-bogeys are, though), but he closed with three birdies over the last seven holes to get his round back under par and give himself the Sunday lead.

"It was bound to happen," Hughes told PGATour.com. It was really hard. It was almost like I had been punched in the face there. I think it's a big boost to finish strong. I'm going to have to play that closing stretch well tomorrow to win."


There are several former winners looking to chase down the inexperienced Hughes including Villegas who shot the round of the day on Saturday with a 6-under 64. It included nine (!) birdies.

Villegas has had a rough go of it of late. He only had two top 25s last season to go along with 11 missed cuts. This week has been a renaissance of sorts.

"I've always said when PGA Tour winners struggle, it goes a little mental," Villegas told PGATour.com. "It's a little lack of confidence and I've been working on that. I've been working on regaining my composure on the golf course and ... feeling more comfortable with the outcome, either good or bad."

So now the rookie Hughes takes his first 54-hole lead into a final round that should be full of drama. It is the final official round of PGA Tour golf in 2016. Enjoy it because the curtain will close shortly on what has been another terrific year of pro golf.

"Obviously the situation is big, to be leading a Tour event," Hughes told reporters. "It hits me at times out there. I have to kind of control my emotions and not get ahead of myself. You imagine yourself in that same spot maybe on Sunday having a chance to win and then you kind of get the shivers, the goosebumps thinking about it and you have to just say, 'All right. I've got the shot in front of me that I have to focus on.'"

Yeah, Sunday should be fun.