LOS CABOS, Mexico (AP) — Ben James ran off five straight birdies around the turn and finished with an aggressive tee shot for one last birdie and an 8-under 64 on Friday to build a one-shot lead going into the weekend at the World Wide Technology Championship.
James, already assured his PGA Tour card for next year as the No. 1 player in the PGA Tour University ranking, had his 14th round of 65 or lower in 13 tournaments since turning pro out of Virginia this summer.
Advertisement
He already has four finishes in the top 5 and picking up plenty of experience along the way. A victory would put him on the Championship Series under the new model in 2028 and move him into the top 50 in the world.
“It’s weird, in college I was kind of someone that would shoot 2, 3 under every time out and would have trouble going low,” James said. “But you adapt to your surroundings as humans, so I guess out here that’s what you have to do. I’ve been rolling it well and playing well, so nice to be shooting some low numbers.”
James was at 15-under 129 at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante. He was one shot ahead of Peter Malnati, who was tied for the lead until coming up short of the green on the par-3 ninth and missing a 12-foot par putt to end his round of 64.
“I work really hard on my game and I haven’t had tons to show for that lately,” Malnati said. “So to not be in that position coming down the stretch on a Friday where … I don’t even have to think about the cut line, I can think about playing golf. That was fun.”
Advertisement
Zac Blair had a 68 and was three shots behind.
This is the second time James has had the lead going into the weekend. The other was the RBC Canadian Open, and he shot a 78 to quickly spiral out of contention. He also had a good chance to win the Biltmore Championship Asheville until Jacob Bridgeman put on a putting clinic down the stretch in the final round.
“I’m doing everything right,” James said. “But for me, I’m just trying to win each shot, just do the best I can for each golf shot and not thinking ahead and just do the best I can. And as I say, winning the shot at hand.”
He won the par-5 18th when he least expected it. James has been relying on his short wedges, and hit a pedestrian pitch to about 18 feet. But he holed the putt, and then started the front nine with three straight birdies to set the target.
This is among the last three tournaments of the FedEx Cup Fall, after which the top 100 players keep full status for next year.
___
See AP’s full golf coverage here
