John Keefer clings to one-shot lead at CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open

WINNIPEG, Manitoba – John Keefer retained sole possession of the lead after 54 holes at the CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open. Neal Shipley is in solo second after carding a 3-under 69, while Brendan MacDougall moved into solo third after an 8-under 64 on Saturday.

After finishing his second round on Saturday morning and tying the course record at Southwood Golf and Country Club with an 11-under 61, Keefer carded a 1-under 71 in the third round and heads into the final round with a one-stroke lead. Currently the No. 2 player in the Fortinet Cup points list, Keefer has four runner-up finishes in seven starts through the North America Swing. Since beginning his professional career in June, Keefer has not missed a cut and has finished inside the top-10 six times.

Keefer earned status for the North America Swing after he finished 25th in the PGA TOUR University Class of 2024. Keefer jumped into the top-25 after a T11 finish at the NCAA National Championship in May. In 141 career rounds at Baylor University, Keefer had a cumulative stroke average of 71.45, the best mark in program history. Keefer was also a two-time All-Big 12 selection in 2022 and 2024 and set the Baylor program record for lowest tournament score at the 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional, where he carded a 12-under 198 and finished T2.

Final-round play will begin at 7:20 a.m. on Sunday, with tee times running from approximately 7:15 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. off the No. 1 tee.

About John Keefer (Leader/-21)

Age: 23
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Residence: San Antonio, Texas
College: Baylor University
Fortinet Cup (start of week): Second

• Has a cumulative scoring average of 65.52 through seven starts this summer, which is No. 1 on PGA TOUR Americas.
• Has made the cut in all seven starts this summer since earning membership through PGA TOUR University.
• Finished his collegiate career with the lowest stroke average in Baylor program history (71.45), besting Jimmy Walker’s mark of 71.55.
• Named to the All-Big 12 team twice (2022, 2024).
• Only individual to be named Big 12 Men’s Golf Scholar Athlete of the Year three times (2022, 2023, 2024).
• Set Baylor tournament scoring record at 2024 NCAA Chapel Hill Regional with a score of 12-under 198.
• Finished T11 at NCAA National Championship, the best individual finish at Nationals in Baylor program history.
• Became the fourth player in Baylor history to be named to the Arnold Palmer Cup team (2022).
• Recipient of the 2024 Scout McNealy Award, which is awarded to a member of the Baylor Men’s Golf team that exemplifies excellence in their everyday life

Competition notes

Course setup: Par 72 / 7,311 yards; R3 average: 69.610
Weather: Sunny with a high of 87. Wind from the northwest at 2-16 mph with gusts up to 26 mph.

• Keefer tied the course record at Southwood Golf & Country Club after carding an 11-under 61 in the second round, which concluded on Saturday morning.
• With a win, Keefer would move to No. 1 in the Fortinet Cup points list.
• Shipley would move to No. 14 in the Fortinet Cup points list with a win; Shipley started the week 119th.
• Three countries are represented in the top five and ties: United States (3), Canada (2) and Argentina (1).
• Argentina’s Andres Gallegos (T4/-17) is the low Latin through 54-holes.
• Brendan MacDougall is the low Canadian (3rd/-18) after carding an 8-under 64 in the third round.
• 72 players made the cut at 7-under.
• Hole No. 1 – the 484-yard par 4 – was the most challenging hole at Southwood Golf and Country Club on Saturday; averaging a +.220.