Vegas leads Kuchar by one point at Atlanta Open

WASHINGTON — Jhonattan Vegas made six birdies in the final eight holes on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) to take a one-stroke lead over Matt Kuchar at the Atlanta Open as both sides looked to end a PGA victory drought.

Venezuela’s Vegas, who turns 40 next month, birdied the par-5 18th hole to finish at eight-under-par 63. After 54 holes at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, the score now stands at 16-under-par 197.

“Nerves. We all feel it. That’s the beauty of it,” Vegas said. “It’s about managing that and trying to bring back the game you know how to play. I’m excited.”

Kuchar, a 46-year-old American, shot four under par on his last four holes and also posted a score of 63, closing with an eagle pitch-in from 30 feet down the fairway.

“It was a risky shot to hit a high spinner from where I was standing but it came out perfectly,” Kuchar said. “To have it go in was a really cool finish.”

American Maverick McNealy was third with 199 after his own 63, while his compatriots Sahith Theegala and Patrick Fishburn shared fourth place with 201 and a trio with 202 including Australian Cam Davis, Canadian Adam Svensson and American Matt NeSmith.

Vegas has not won a PGA title since the 2016 and 2017 Canadian Open titles.

Vegas is chasing his fourth career PGA victory, his first coming at the 2011 Bob Hope Classic after undergoing right shoulder surgery in 2022 that forced him to miss the 2023 season.