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Michael Wright takes lead heading into final round at Sanford International

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    Written by Staff @ChampionsTour

    Things to know

    • Rookie Michael Wright carded 65 on Moving Day to take a one-stroke lead over Charles Schwab No. 4 Richard Green entering the final round of the Sanford International presented by First PREMIER Bank & Mastercard.
    • Two-time defending champion Steve Stricker and first-round leader Billy Andrade each sit T3, three strokes behind Wright.

    Michael Wright, 67-65 – 132 (-8)

    • The 50-year-old Australian seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (18th start).
      • Best finish: T7 (2024 Kaulig Companies Championship).
    • This is his rookie season on PGA TOUR Champions (turned 50 on Feb. 21, 2024).
      • Has one top-10 finish in 17 starts.
    • Was one of five players to earn PGA TOUR Champions status for 2024 via Q-School last December.
      • Finished 2nd at Q-School Final Stage (Nov. 29-Dec. 2, 2023).
    • Matched the low round of the day (65) with Richard Green (2nd) and Gene Sauers (T12).
    • This is his first time leading/co-leading after any round on PGA TOUR Champions.
      • Previous best position after any round: T4 (2024 Kaulig Companies Championship, 3rd Round).
    • This is his low 36-hole score on PGA TOUR Champions (132).
      • Previous: 136 (2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship).
    • With a win on Sunday, he would be the fifth first-time winner of the 2024 season on PGA TOUR Champions.
      • It would be the third consecutive tournament with a first-time winner (Stewart Cink/The Ally Challenge; Y.E. Yang/Ascension Charity Classic).
    • Would be the youngest winner of the 2024 season on PGA TOUR Champions at 50 years, 6 months, 25 days.
      • Note: this is the 22nd tournament of the 2024 season.

    Other notes

    • Charles Schwab No. 4 Richard Green matched the low round of the day with 65 and sits in 2nd at 7-under.
      • The 53-year-old seeks his first win on PGA TOUR Champions (50th start).
      • Has three runner-up finishes during the 2024 season (KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship; The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex; Rogers Charity Classic).
    • Seeking his third consecutive win at the Sanford International, Steve Stricker sits T3 at 5-under after carding 68.
      • With a win on Sunday, he would become the first player in history to three-peat on both the PGA TOUR (John Deere Classic, 2009-11) and PGA TOUR Champions (Sanford International, 2022-present).
      • It would be his fourth overall victory in the seven-year history of the Sanford International, previously winning in 2018, 2022 and 2023.
      • His position by round in his last seven rounds at the Sanford International (chronologically): T4-Won-T1-1st-Won-T2-T3.
    • First-round leader Billy Andrade shot 72 and sits T3 at 5-under.
      • The 60-year-old seeks his fourth win on PGA TOUR Champions (241st start).
      • Last win: 2015 Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
      • Note: all three of his wins on PGA TOUR Champions were in 2015.
    • Charles Schwab Cup leader Ernie Els, 46-time PGA TOUR Champions winner Bernhard Langer and 2019 champion Rocco Mediate are among the seven players T5 at 4-under.
      • The 67-year-old Langer shot his age (67) for the 19th time on PGA TOUR Champions.
    • Mark Hensby withdrew during the second round.