Adrien Dumont De Chassart surges into contention as Valspar Championship lead holds entering Sunday
adrien dumont de chassart is in the mix at the Valspar Championship after 54 holes, sitting tied for sixth at 6-under as of 11: 30 p. m. ET on Saturday. Sungjae Im stayed on top with authority at 11-under, maintaining control of the leaderboard heading into the final round in Florida. Matthieu Pavon surged early on moving day but stumbled late in the closing stretch known as the Snake Pit, still climbing into the top 20.
Leaderboard tightens, with Adrien Dumont De Chassart on the first page
Sungjae Im signed for a 69 on Saturday to remain the tournament leader at 11-under. He is two shots clear of David Lipsky and Brandt Snedeker, who share second at 9-under. Matt Fitzpatrick and Marco Penge sit fourth at 8-under, while adrien dumont de chassart and S. H. Kim follow in sixth at 6-under, keeping pressure on the leaders with one round left.
Behind them, Corey Conners, Chandler Blanchet, and Tom Kim are tied for eighth at 5-under. Just outside the top 10 at 4-under in 11th are Gary Woodland, Tony Finau, and Brooks Koepka after a round that included an on-course incident on the 15th hole.
Im steadies himself after injury, keeps a two-shot cushion
Im’s position at the top comes after what he described as a slow start upon returning from a wrist injury. He said he was unable to practice for two months, then felt he was able to fix shots he did not like last year once he resumed training. On Saturday, he made birdies at the first, seventh, and eighth holes, then took bogeys at the 12th and 13th before finishing with a birdie at 18 for his 69.
“I couldn’t practice for two months, ” said Sungjae Im, professional golfer on the PGA Tour. “When I could start practicing again, I think I could fix a lot of shots I didn’t like last year. My game has constantly improved. ” He added that he was happy with his play on the closing holes and “really pleased” to have a two-shot lead entering Sunday.
Snedeker will join Im in the final group. Brandt Snedeker, professional golfer on the PGA Tour and captain of the United States at the Presidents Cup, said he recently changed his putter and has been successful on and around the greens this week. “If I can control my long game better, I’ll have a good chance to win tomorrow, ” Snedeker said after posting 67 on Saturday.
Pavon’s moving day: early birdies, late damage in the Snake Pit
Matthieu Pavon began Saturday sharply with two opening birdies, then made a bogey at the seventh hole. He responded immediately, rolling in a six-meter putt at the eighth, then produced a strong approach at the 10th and chipped close at the 11th to pick up more birdies, putting himself inside the top 10 before the closing trio of holes.
At the 16th he stayed composed, but the finish unraveled: two consecutive three-putts at 17 and 18, including a missed par try from 70 centimeters at 17. On 18, he also found two bunkers and wrote down a double bogey. Despite the frustration, Pavon posted 70, his third straight 70 in Florida, and stands 17th at 3-under after 54 holes, still alive for what would be his best result of the season, matching a previous 17th-place showing.
On-course incident at 15 rattles Koepka, prompts immediate response
Koepka’s round included an incident on the 15th hole where a young girl was struck by a golf cart. Brooks Koepka, professional golfer, rushed over to comfort the spectator. He later said she was not injured and emphasized that her well-being was what mattered most.
“I felt really bad, ” Koepka said. “From the information I got, she’s fine, thankfully. That’s all that matters. ” Koepka then made a double bogey soon after and finished with a 71.
What’s next Sunday in Florida
The final round will decide whether Im can convert his two-shot lead into a title, with Snedeker and Lipsky closest in pursuit and Fitzpatrick and Penge still within range. Just behind that chase group, adrien dumont de chassart starts Sunday tied for sixth, positioned to climb with a strong finish as the Valspar Championship heads to its final day.
