03 October 2021: At 23, Sahith Theegala has a rare maturity. The Californian showed again that the lights do not scare him, with a polished effort, leading from the front in the Sanderson Farms Championship. Starting the day in a three-way tie for the lead, he was the lone man at the top by the end of it, with a measured effort and a robust finish. Sam Burns (65), Denny McCarthy (65), Cameron Tringale (62) and Cameron Young (67) were one back from Sahith at 17-under through 54 holes.
The Pepperdine graduate swept the collegiate honours in 2020 and a victory this week will not only mark the start of a rewarding professional career, but set him in a rich club of first time winners at the Country Club of Jackson. Six of the past seven winners of the Sanderson Farms Championship has been a first time PGA TOUR winner, with the exception of Sergio Garcia in 2020.
Sahith has made just one bogey this week, returning clean cards on Thursday and Saturday. He has been handling the nerves well so far, and will need more of the same on Sunday.
“Definitely a little nerves in there for sure,” Theegala said. “But I think people have said before pressure is a privilege, and I’m trying to use those nerves to my advantage.”
Sahith could have gone one better, but for a 360 degree lip out, when he chipped straight at the flag.
“I can’t wait to see the replay of that to see what happened because it literally looked like more than a 360,” Theegala said. “I didn’t have the greatest vantage point, but it was literally going right at the stick, and I’m like, ‘OK, that’s in, with good speed.’ I can’t believe that lip-out.”
Unlike Cameron Tringale, who is hunting for a maiden victory in his 311th start on the PGA TOUR, Sahith is playing just his 15th event at the start of a promising professional career. Tringale threw his hat into the final round debate with an emphatic 62.
Denny McCarthy was T6 last year in this event and a second straight 65 earns him a chance at clinching the big W on Sunday. The 28-year-old was T3 in the Honda Classic last year, his best finish so far on the PGA TOUR.
Sam Burns knows what it takes to win, having won the Valspar Championship last year. He shot himself into contention with a 65 to continue his climb this week. He shot rounds 68 and 66 in the first two rounds. He made five straight birdies on Saturday to put the meat on his card.
Will Zalatoris, last year’s rookie of the season, had a flat 72, leaving him five strokes back. Nick Watney suffered a double bogey on 16, posted 71 and is four back from the leader. Both men had a share of the lead after two rounds.
Third-Round Leaderboard
Sahith Theegala 64-67-67—198 (-18)
Cameron Tringale 71-66-62—199 (-17)
Denny McCarthy 69-65-65—199 (-17)
Sam Burns 68-66-65—199 (-17)
Cameron Young 67-65-67—199 (-17)
Bogey-free rounds:
R1 (8): Sahith Theegala (64), Kurt Kitayama (66), Patton Kizzire (67), Adam Hadwin (67), Austin Cook (68), Matthew Wolff (68), Doc Redman (69), Sergio Garcia (70)
R2 (16): Will Zalatoris (61), Alex Smalley (63), Paul Barjon (66), Sam Burns (66), Brandon Hagy (66), Russell Knox (66), Nate Lashley (66), Henrik Norlander (66), Jimmy Walker (66), Grant Hirschman (67), John Huh (67), Peter Malnati (67), C.T. Pan (67), Mito Pereira (67), Adam Svensson (69), Dylan Wu (71)
R3 (13): Cameron Tringale (62), Trey Mullinax (64), Sam Burns (65), Denny McCarthy (65), Taylor Moore (66), Andrew Landry (66), Sahith Theegala (67), Harold Varner III (67), Chesson Hadley (67), Luke List (68), William McGirt (68), Kevin Streelman (68), Roger Sloan (68)
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