Silves, Illinois — Brendon Todd rushed par for the 14th to take a one-stroke lead Saturday at the John Deere Classic, holeshotting 12 feet after drawing an awkward pause near a fairway bunker.
Todd had a 5-under 66 in breezy conditions to go 16-under 197 at TPC Deere Run. The three-time PGA Tour winner was driving close to the left fairway dugout on the 18th, forcing him to strike with his left foot into the grass and his right foot down the sand. He advanced it 65 yards to create a 105-yard wedge.
“It kept me clear of the ghost and kept me in the lead,” Todd said. “You always want to be the guy who gets chased.”
Todd dug into the 5-s, 25-ft putts, and took No. 13, 15, and 16. Mexico.
“It just goes down and makes the birds,” Todd said. “It’s going to be tough to run away and hide here, but that’s the point. Anyone three shots from the lead looking to pull back as much as they can. So, there’s definitely no defense for me tomorrow. It’s going to be the same things.”
Alex Smalley (62), Denny McCarthy (66) and Adam Schenck (67) are tied for second.
“I feel like a veteran here,” said Smalley. “I’ve only been on the Tour for two years, and this is my third year in the event, so it’s one of the few events where I feel like I know the course really well. I feel comfortable here. I love the atmosphere of this competition.”
McCarthy rode the 14th, hitting a 342 drive on the green and hitting a 30-foot putt, then bounced off a bogey in the 16th with a birdie in the 17th.
“It was very stormy,” McCarthy said. “Hit a lot of really good shots early on, actually, and you didn’t really convert some close hits, but then made a couple of bombs to make up for it.”
Peter Quest (65) was 14, with second round leader Cameron Young (71) another stroke along with first round leader Jonas Blixt (65), Chris Kirk (66), JT Poston (65), Lucas Glover ( 66), Kevin Roy (68), Mark Hubbard (67) and William Moe (68).
After birdieing 16-and-17, Young hit his approach of 165 yards on 18 left in the water and closed with a double bogey. He has six PGA Tour runner-up finishes without a win — tied with Colin Montgomery and Brainy Bird for over 40.
American Ryder Cup captain Zac Johnson, who formed near Iowa and former John Deere champion, was tied for 39th at 8-under at No. 67. He cut the number Friday.