PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – The PGA TOUR today announced the 2019 Web.com Tour schedule, which features 27 tournaments played in 17 states and four countries outside the United States and culminates with the Web.com Tour Finals in August and September. The Finals will consist of three tournaments culminating with the Web.com Tour Championship, which will conclude on Labor Day.

“The Web.com Tour has enjoyed tremendous momentum in recent years and has created a platform from which graduates are enjoying immediate success on the PGA TOUR,” said PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. “The revamped schedule will allow for a more natural cadence to the season for our fans, while providing an earlier finish that enhances the visibility of the Web.com Tour Finals.”

The Web.com Tour will welcome three new events to the 2019 calendar, with the Suncoast Classic in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, debuting the week of February 11-17 as the fifth of five consecutive events to open the season (a Web.com Tour record). The Evans Scholars Invitational will be held in suburban Chicago at The Glen Club the week of May 20-26, while The TPC Colorado Championship at Heron Lakes in Berthoud, Colorado, will be conducted the week of July 8-14 at the newly-opened TPC Colorado.

The season-long chase for 50 available PGA TOUR cards encompasses a 24-event Regular Season that runs from The Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at Sandals Emerald Bay in January through the WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by KraftHeinz in August, before giving way to the seventh annual Web.com Tour Finals, which will consist of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship (Aug. 12-18), Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco (Aug. 19-25) and Web.com Tour Championship (Aug. 27-2). The Finals moving from four events to three mimics the PGA TOUR’s re-aligned FedExCup Playoffs, which will also feature three events in 2019.

“The 2019 Web.com Tour schedule is a result of the incredible support we receive from our title sponsors and tournament teams in their respective markets combined with the immediate and sustained success that our players are having on the PGA TOUR,” said Web.com Tour President Dan Glod. “We are excited to unveil a schedule that includes three new events as we continue to focus on growing the tournament experience for our fans and providing more playing opportunities for our membership.”

Ten events will air on Golf Channel, including all three Web.com Tour Finals tournaments. Tournament programming is distributed in 180 countries and territories across more than 320 million potential households, with 35+ channels carrying long-form and/or highlights coverage and live coverage distributed in 100+ countries and territories across 100 million potential households.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Corey Conners is playing in the Web.com Tour’s Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship this weekend in hopes of grabbing his PGA Tour Card and it seems to be in reach. After recording another round in the 60s on Friday Conners heads into the weekend with a share of 12th at 5-under. The Listowel, Ont. native looks to finish strong this weekend to inch closer to securing his spot on the PGA Tour next year.

It was a windy Friday in Columbus, but not even the wind gusts could stop former PGA TOUR winner Robert Streb from making a statement in the Buckeye State, posting a second-round 3-under 68 to move to 9-under 133 heading into the weekend.

2017 Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada Player of the Year Kramer Hickok sits one back of Streb, followed by a host of players tied at 7-under 135.

“(It feels) a little different,” Streb said of holding the 36-hole lead. “I haven’t done too much of it this year, but it’s nice to be playing well, putting well.  Hopefully, I can keep getting some chances this weekend and see how we do.”

Streb, who entered Friday one stroke back of the lead, ran into trouble early at The Ohio State University Golf Club’s Scarlet Course. After picking up a bogey on his opening hole Thursday, Streb ran into the same fate on Friday, carding a five on the par-4 10th (his first hole of the day).

“I hit it way left,” he said when asked what led to the error. “I got a pretty good break and just basically guessed poorly on the green firmness.  I got through the green (on my approach shot), had a tough chip, and then hit a good one.”

The mistake ended up being the only one of the day for the Kansas State University alum, who kept his scorecard clean for the remainder of the round. Birdies on Nos. 12 and 18 allowed Streb to make the turn at 1-under 34 and join a collection of players who had become bunched atop the leaderboard.

After making par on the first three holes of his second nine, the father-of-three needed something big to build momentum and break away from the rest of the pack.

“That was nice,” Streb remarked after the round. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to cover the bunker or not.  It covered, I had a pretty good number, and luckily, it landed soft on the green and I had a good putt at it.”

The 2012 Mylan Classic champion would go on to par his remaining five holes, ending the day with a 68.

After finishing at No. 178 in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Standings this year, Streb looks to return to the PGA TOUR with a win this week and make up for a 2017-18 season that was full of struggles. The Oklahoma native made just 10 of 29 cuts, picking up a lone top-10 finish at the Barbasol Championship (T10), where he held a share of the 54-hole lead.

Unlike Streb, Hickok’s status for next season has already been determined.

After notching four top-10s, including a runner-up, in his rookie season, the 26-year-old ended the Regular Season at No. 23, earning his first PGA TOUR card at the conclusion of last week’s WinCo Foods Portland Open presented by Kraft-Heinz.

“I feel like I’m really just freewheeling it out here this week,” Hickok commented after the first round. “I feel like there are a lot of guys that have a lot more pressure than I do, whether they’re trying to (regain) their PGA TOUR card or they’re trying to get to the PGA TOUR for the first time.  So my mentality is just way different.  I’m really relaxed and just got nothing to lose, so I’m just out there playing the best golf I can.”

That sense of freedom allowed Hickok to continue his strong play into Friday, picking up five birdies alongside two bogeys to finish the day at 3-under 68, moving to 8-under 134 for the tournament.

“It’s tough out there,” Hickok remarked. “You’ve got to be really patient. I hit the driver really well today, which allowed me to put myself in position to score, but even then you can still make a quick bogey.

“The whole game plan is just to limit the mistakes, and I feel if you limit the bogeys, you’ll be able to shoot some low rounds out here. It’s not about making birdies; it’s not a birdie fest, so just limit the mistakes as much as you can and it seems to be helping so far.”

CLYMER, N.Y. – Canadian Roger Sloan climbed back up 20 spots to sit tied for fourth after the third round of the LECOM Health Challenge at Peek’n Peak Resort.

With an impressive seven consecutive birdies on the back-nine, the Calgary, Alta., product fired an 8 under in the third round. Sloan will head into the final day tied for fourth with American Hank Lebioda, four strokes back of leader Sebastian Muñoz at 14-under-par 202.

After shooting a 3-under 69 on Friday to retain a share of the lead, the Colombia native remarked that he believed this was the week the lessons he’d learned this season would pay off. With another round in the books at Peek’n Peak Resort, it looks as if Muñoz might be right. The 26-year-old carded a 7-under 65 during the third round Saturday to move to 18-under 198 for the tournament, setting a tournament record for lowest 54-hole score and claiming the solo lead heading into Sunday. Nelson Ledesma and Kyle Jones sit one stroke back, tied for second.

The round began slowly for Muñoz, who carded five-consecutive pars and a bogey in his first six holes. The 2016 Country Club de Bogotá Championship winner remained calm and collected, however, not letting the slow start rattle him, despite a leaderboard that was quickly bunching up around him.

“I had a few looks that I could’ve made birdies on,” Muñoz remarked. “I didn’t make them and then made a bogey, so that’s always frustrating. You start to think that maybe it’s not your day, but I wasn’t negative at all. I just hit three great shots on No. 8 and then completely flipped the switch.”

Flipping the switch was indeed what Muñoz did. After hitting a strong drive off the tee, he was left with 289 yards to the pin. Despite initially being hesitant to play aggressive from his spot, Muñoz and his caddie decided to take a chance. The play ended up paying off for the University of North Texas alum, who landed his ball on the first cut of the green, about 15 feet from the hole. He would successfully make the putt, picking up an eagle in the process.

He continued to ride that momentum, picking up birdies on his next four holes. Confident in his play, Muñoz glanced up at a leaderboard for the first time on No. 15. When he noticed that he wasn’t leading, despite what he felt was great play, he realized he needed to keep pressing on the gas through his closing stretch.

“I noticed I wasn’t leading,” he said about looking up at the scores, “even though I was playing good and I was like, ‘wow.’ I think that helped me make birdie on Nos. 16 and 18.”

When Muñoz approached the green on No. 18, he shared the lead with Jones and Ledesma, who had already finished their rounds. As he looked around at the fans packed into the grandstands and bleachers and looked back at the putt he had remaining for birdie, he knew that was about to change.

“I kind of just pictured the line when I was walking the first time I saw it,” he commented when asked about the birdie putt. “I just thought, ‘I want to hit it right now.’ It was one of those that you just kind of instinctively know you’re going to make.”

Muñoz would card the birdie to move to 18-under 198 heading into Sunday, marking the ninth time this season that he has held a round lead/co-lead on Tour. Despite having been in contention early on in four different tournaments heading into this week, the Bogotá native had failed to carry any lead into Sunday. While his results have still been strong (a runner-up performance, a third-place, and six additional top-25s), victory has seemed to evade him each week.

“I feel like this year I’ve learned a lot,” Muñoz reflected. “I feel like I’ve grown as a player from last year, and even from [the beginning of] this year. It just keeps proving that work does pay off. I’m happy with the position I’m in and we’ll see [what happens tomorrow].”

While a victory Sunday in Western New York would secure his return to the PGA TOUR next season, the win would come with additional meaning for Muñoz, who is quickly becoming one of the main faces of professional golf in Colombia.

“Man, I love it,” Muñoz said about being able to represent his home country. “I just think it’s huge for golf in Colombia, trying to make it bigger, trying to make it more popular. I think the things it’s doing for the tournament in Bogotá and the sponsors – for me to be able to help a little is just great.”

MUNDELEIN, Ill. – Before heading to Ivanhoe Club, Chase Wright lost in a playoff to qualify for the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. The disappointment didn’t linger, as the 28-year-old Wright found himself in another playoff Sunday afternoon, this time at the Rust-Oleum Championship. Wright, who was tied with Alex Prugh at 17-under 271 at the end of regulation, birdied the second playoff hole to earn his maiden Web.com Tour victory in his 83rd start.

“This is so much sweeter,” said Wright, who moved to No. 5 on the money list. “This week was way more important than going out there for one week. I want to be out there for 30 weeks.”

Prugh finished 17-under first after three birdies on the final five holes. The 33-year-old from Spokane, Washington missed a 15-foot putt for birdie on the 72nd hole to post 18-under. Wright, who was in the group right behind Prugh, made par on the final three holes to end regulation at 17-under as well.

“I just wanted to not beat myself,” said Wright, who two-putted the par-3 17th from 80 feet away to remain in a tie with Prugh. “As long as I hung in there and did my thing, I would be fine.”

Wright did just that on second extra hole, hitting a 7-iron from 170 yards to 5 feet from the cup. After Prugh missed his birdie bid, the Muncie, Indiana native all but secured his PGA TOUR card by knocking in his birdie try.

“I kind of calmly knew it was going to happen all day,” said Wright, who started the day two strokes off the lead. “Even in some hard moments when I hit some bad shots, I got it up-and-down and went about my business.”

Wright admitted he felt the pressure coming down the stretch. Each time he sensed the magnitude of the situation, the six-year pro remembered his friend, the late Dennis ‘Zink’ Zinkon, who played on the Web.com Tour in the early 1990s and assisted the Tour’s operations team in all facets. Zinkon passed away in 2016 with a pulmonary embolism, at the age of 55, but still lives on in the memory of everyone involved with the Web.com Tour, including Wright who regularly sought out ‘Zink’ for advice when he was struggling.

“I was actually thinking about him coming in,” said Wright, about his late friend. “He was definitely there with me today. He used to tell me, putting is pretty easy. Aim it, roll it, and repeat one and two if necessary.”

Wright’s journey to the Web.com Tour’s winner’s circle can be traced back to last summer when he competed on Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. After spending three years on Tour, Wright lost his card and went to Canada to try and earn it back. In 12 events, he posted six top-25s and won the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary. Wright ended the season No. 8 on the Order of Merit and regained his status on the Web.com Tour with a T42 at Final Stage of the Qualifying Tournament.

“Just getting back was one of my goals,” said Wright, about his return to the Web.com Tour in 2018. “It’s just great being around everyone again. I know the courses, and this means a lot. I’ve been in this spot a few times and faltered. To come through is awesome.”

After four years of competing on the Web.com Tour, Wright is now likely headed to the PGA TOUR later this year. Like those that have graduated before him, he believes his time on Tour has prepared him for success at the next level.

“Just to make the cut out here, you’ve played pretty well,” said Wright, who became the 11th first-time winner on Tour this season. “I think it’s the second-best (level of) competition in the world, and most people out here will tell you that.”

Ryan Yip from Calgary, Alta. finished T18 while fellow Canadian, Mike Weir, finished T56.

MUNDELEIN, Ill. – It was moving day for Canada’s Ryan Yip at the Rust-Oleum Championship on Saturday. The Calgary, Alta., product climbed 32 spots to sit tied for fifth at 12-under-par 204 going into Sunday’s final round.

Moving Day, maximized.@RyanYipGolf began the third round @RustOleumChamp in 37th place.

After an 8-under 64 @IvanhoeClub, he now shares the lead. pic.twitter.com/WcbIhbQFln

— Web.com Tour (@WebDotComTour) June 9, 2018

Fellow Canadian Mike Weir had a tough day but remains in the tournament going into the final round at 5-under-par 211.

Kyle Jones carded a flawless 4-under 68 in the third round of the Rust-Oleum Championship to take the first 54-hole lead of his Web.com Tour career. The 24-year-old from Victorville, California is 15-under-par heading into Sunday, one ahead of Christian Brand and two clear of Justin Lower and Chase Wright.

There are 13 players within four strokes of Jones, including 36-hole leader Maverick McNealy, who carded a 1-over 73 on Saturday at Ivanhoe Club.

Playing in Saturday’s final group was something new for Jones, but he found comfort in being paired with McNealy. McNealy struggled on Saturday afternoon while Jones remained poised and moved to the top of the leaderboard.

“All the nerves I felt going into today, I felt before the round,” he said. “Once I got on the course it was back to golf and trying to make birdies. It was nice playing with a guy that you know.”

Jones made four birdies in the third round, but it was the par-saves that kept the momentum positive. Each time the Baylor University graduate missed the green, he got up-and-down to remain blemish-free. Jones left little doubt when left with a putt for par, as each attempt hit the back of the cup and disappeared into the hole.

“That’s how I putt,” said Jones. “I don’t see the lines where I die them in. I like to ram them in, and if I miss I have a 3- or 4-footer coming back. I’m putting good, so I feel comfortable over those.”

Jones has posted one top-10 this season and is currently No. 67 on the money list. In 2017, the 24-year-old competed on mini-tours before regaining his status at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament this past December. A win in Mundelein would move the three-year pro to No. 12 on the money list and one step closer to earning his PGA TOUR card.

“I’m excited,” said Jones, about the challenge Sunday presents. “I’m going to try and not think about it too much because it can get in my head.”

Brand made a significant move on Saturday, posting seven birdies and no bogeys. Last year, the Dick Nugent layout wasn’t kind to the Charleston, West Virginia native as he carded 72-73 and missed the cut. Brand had no trouble on Saturday, hitting nine of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation en route to the second lowest third-round score.

“Today was a great day,” said Brand, who matched his personal best third-round score on Tour. “Ivanhoe played awesome for us. The course is in phenomenal shape and I hit a couple of good shots, so it worked out.”

Brand entered the week No. 124 on the money list. In 13 starts, the 30-year-old Marshall University graduate has made five cuts with his best performance coming at the Savannah Golf Championship (T22). In just his second year on Tour, Brand has a chance to win his first Web.com Tour event and move closer to the top 25 on the money list.

“There’s still a long way to go,” said Brand. “Everyone knows how 18 holes can go. There are a lot of golf shots to be hit. Great round today, I’ll enjoy it for now. Try to rest up and be ready.”

Click here for up-to-date leaderboard

MUNDELEIN, Ill. – Through 36 holes, 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir is T14 at 6-under 138 at the Rust-Oleum Championship. Weir’s last top-10 in a PGA TOUR-sanctioned event was a runner-up at the 2014 AT&T Byron Nelson. That finish represents his only top-10 in his last 129 starts on the PGA TOUR.

It’s been a few months, but Maverick McNealy has found himself in a familiar position on the Web.com Tour. After a second-round 8-under 64 at Ivanhoe Club, the 22-year-old Tour rookie takes the lead into Saturday. His 12-under 132 total places him one ahead of Kyle Jones after 36 holes.

On Friday, McNealy got off to a hot start with birdies at 10 and 11. He then played the back-to-back par-5s in 3-under, chipping in for eagle at the 14^th and a routine up and in on 15. Through two rounds, McNealy is 7-under on the par-5s. A recent change in philosophy has helped create more opportunities for the Stanford, California native on the longer holes.

“We were playing to short and to the front of the green,” said McNealy about his approach to the scoreable holes at the start of the year. “I was a little more aggressive, trying to get a balance between the front and back of the green. I think par-5 play has been a key for me and it comes from better strategy and picking good targets.”

In early May, McNealy took a break from the Web.com Tour and competed on the PGA TOUR in Dallas and Fort Worth. He made the cut both weeks and brought that momentum with him to Chicago. The Web.com Tour rookie continues to find comfort on Tour in pressure-packed situations.

“Confidence doesn’t come easily, for me it has to be earned,” he said. “It’s earned through preparation and ultimately through good results. I’m a lot more confident in this position because of what happened at Victoria National and I think I’m a lot more comfortable out here because of the PGA TOUR events I’ve played.”

McNealy took the 36 and 54-hole lead at the United Leasing & Finance Championship but ended the week T3 after a final-round 74. With the help of his caddie, Travis, the former national champion has adjusted his mindset in preparation for the next time he’s in contention.

McNealy has enjoyed success at every level. In college, he won a total of 11 times and collected the Ben Hogan and Fred Haskins Award. The former No. 1 ranked amateur also took home the Nicklaus Award during his time in Northern California. McNealy believes the will to win comes from growing up with siblings.

“I’m incredibly competitive,” he said. “My three younger brothers will attest to that. If you’re not competitive in that household, you don’t really have a place.”

With 36 holes left to decide the outcome, plenty can happen over the next two days. There will be obstacles along the way and McNealy will have his share of frustration over the final two rounds. He understands it’s just a part of the game.

“Golf’s a four-letter word for a reason,” McNealy said. “It’s a frustrating game. It tries you and test you in a lot of different ways. I think I’ve done a pretty good job of it. I’m having fun, I’m learning a lot and I’m just trying to get better every week.”

MUNDELEIN, Ill. – Calgary, Alberta native, Ryan Yip, sits T17 on Thursday after the first round of the Rust-Oleum Championship. He recorded a 3-under 69 after firing three birdies on the back nine.

Andrew Novak made 10 birdies at Ivanhoe Club and posted a 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead. The Web.com Tour rookie grabbed the first 18-hole lead of his career and heads into Friday’s second round one clear of Wes Roach and Jacques Blaauw.

With the mentality of a Monday qualifier, Novak was aggressive on the Dick Nugent design en route to his best start of the season. The 23-year-old from Raleigh, North Carolina ended the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament T73 and was left with conditional status to start 2018. Forced to Monday qualify each week, Novak has found success in the format successfully navigating the challenge twice on the PGA TOUR and three times on the Web.com Tour.

“It’s all just going low and not being afraid of making your seventh, eighth or ninth birdie,” said Novak. “I think the Mondays have taught me that, which has helped.”

The change in mindset has yielded favorable results the past several events. In five starts this season, the former Wofford Terrier made three cuts and entered the week No. 141 on the money list. Not knowing when you will get your next opportunity to compete can be difficult, but Novak has taken his lumps and remained resilient.

“It’s tough not knowing each week if you’re going to get to play,” he said. “It’s nice to know that I’ve earned it that way, but it’s tough.”

Each time Novak successfully qualified for an event, he felt pressure others didn’t. The need to perform so he wouldn’t be in this position the next week loomed over his head and made it difficult to post scores. Each shot was more important than it needed to be because he was in constantly in limbo. This week began differently as Novak got into the Rust-Oleum Championship on his number after the reshuffle.

“My first few events when I would Monday in, I knew I needed a good finish or else I’d be back trying to Monday,” said Novak. “I was definitely putting extra pressure on myself. Pressure that others may not have felt. I didn’t have status or the opportunity to play every week. It’s definitely different now, knowing that I shuffled in and can play every week.”

Novak has persevered through the tough times. The go-for-broke nature of the qualifiers has molded him into the competitor that posted a career-low 65 on Thursday afternoon.

While in Spartanburg, Novak admitted that he would let off the gas when he found himself a few shots under par. Since turning pro last summer, his conservative attitude on the course has shifted to a more aggressive style that yields more competitive scores on the Web.com Tour.

“I think what I learned is that I can go low,” he said. “The Mondays taught me how to go low. This is a birdie Tour and you have to be able to make a lot of birdies, so I think that was big for me.”

“I’ve had a lot of fun, even while doing the Mondays,” continued Novak. “It was still fun going out and competing and getting to play because this is what I want to do.”

RALEIGH, N.C. – Team Canada Young Pro Squad member, Albin Choi, fired a 3-under 68. The Toronto native finished 15-under for the tournament

Choi finished with a share of sixth while Roger Sloan finished with a share of 10th. Sloan had a bogey free final round recording 8-under 63 finishing 14-under for the tournament.

Being in the final grouping of the final round on the Web.com Tour can be a daunting task. Every shot seems magnified, and the crowds make it feel like you have eyes on your every step. It can seem even more nerve wracking when it’s your first year on Tour – and your first time in contention. But the momentum wasn’t too big for University of Georgia alum Joey Garber. After opening play at the Rex Hospital Open with rounds of 66-65-69, Garber entered Sunday T2, three strokes back of the lead. Playing in the final threesome for the first time in his career, he continued his stellar play, posting a final-round 5-under 66 to end the week at 18-under 266, enough to top fellow rookie Hank Lebioda and 2018 Panama Championship winner Scott Langley by one stroke to earn his first professional win.

“To get a win on this Tour,” Garber reflected after his victory, “is definitely one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life and to come through today, this early in the season, in my first year out here, and in my first time in the final group, it means everything to me. It just proves what I believed in myself. I’m very excited with my game and where we’re headed for the rest of the year.”

Garber, who turned professional in 2014, had a stellar college career. A Petoskey, Michigan, native, he spent his first year playing for the University of Michigan, leading them to an NCAA Central Regional win and carding the third-best freshman season in school history before transferring to the University of Georgia. While in Athens, Garber continued to excel. He was named first-team Golfweek All-American (becoming just the fourth Bulldog to do so) and spent time as the No. 1-ranked college golfer.

The professional world proved to be a test for Garber, who struggled to earn permanent status on any tour. He spent 2015 on the Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada, but six missed cuts in nine starts forced him to take the route of Monday qualifying on the PGA TOUR and Web.com Tour. The former “Mr. Michigan Golf” winner finally broke through at the 2017 Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament, where he finished T30 to earn guaranteed starts in the 2018 Web.com Tour Season.

Garber has made the most of his first season on Tour, entering the week in Raleigh with four top-25s in 12 starts already under his belt, including a pair of T8 finishes at the Country Club de Bogotá Championship and the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER.

The field in Raleigh did not make Garber’s win easy for him, with the leaderboard becoming more and more stacked as the day went on. As the leaders neared the closing stretch, 13 players sat within three of Garber, who had brought a lead into his back nine after turning with a 4-under 32. The St. Simons Island, Georgia, resident had no clue what was going on around him, however, instead choosing to focus solely on his game.

“I never looked at one,” he remarked when asked how leaderboard-watching affected him. “My caddie I’m sure was looking at one, so he knew where we stood. In the fairway of No. 18, I asked him what we needed, and he told me we needed a par so I tried to put it in the middle of the green. It came a little left but ended up in a perfect spot. It was bunched up so I’m glad I didn’t see any leaderboards because I just played my own game, tried to make birdies, and be smart.”

Garber’s maiden victory comes with a $117,000 paycheck, enough to move him from 50th to No. 6 on the Regular Season money list and push him one step closer to earning his first PGA TOUR card.

His title in the Tarheel State coincided with another major win for Garber – the announcement of a 2019 PGA TOUR event in his home state of Michigan.

“Hopefully it’s just divine intervention,” he laughed when asked about the timing. “I’m very fortunate to be from the state of Michigan. It’s a great state for golf. While the season is short, I think it’s the best golf courses in the country, so I’m glad it’s back on the national showcase. I hope I’m there. That would be really special to me.”
With the way his season is going, there’s a good chance this time next year Garber could be competing on TOUR in his home state.

RALEIGH, N.C. – Albin Choi, of Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad, shares a piece of fourth going into Sunday’s round at the Rex Hospital Open at TPC Wakefield Plantation in North Carolina.

The Toronto native, who entered the third round after a tournament-low 64 on Friday, sits four strokes behind the lead at 12-under for the tournament.

Five-consecutive missed cuts. No professional golfer wants to experience it, especially during a season that started off with two top-20 finishes in three starts. It can be easy for a player to get discouraged in the midst of a string of missed cuts. They can start to force shots and change their approach, which can often lead to even more of a rut. Auburn University alum Michael Johnson is not most, though, so when he was hit with a string of five missed cuts beginning in April, he remained patient and focused, knowing his time would come.

At last week’s Nashville Golf Open Benefitting the Snedeker Foundation, Johnson’s patience was repaid with a made cut – and a T15 finish. Now, just a week later, Johnson is in the mix once again, posting a third-round 6-under 65 to take the solo 54-hole lead at the Rex Hospital Open, the first of his Tour career. The 25-year-old enters Sunday three strokes ahead of Sebastian Muñoz and Joey Garber, both of whom played alongside Johnson in the final threesome on Saturday.

Johnson started Saturday slowly, carding two birdies and seven pars on his front nine. Johnson remained in the mix as the leaderboard became more and more bunched around him, with as many as five players tied for the lead at one point. The Birmingham, Alabama, native didn’t let the rest of the field shake him, however, remaining calm despite a bogey on the par-3 12th. It wasn’t until the end that Johnson truly heated up, making birdie on all three of his closing holes.

“I probably need to be more patient than ever tomorrow,” Johnson remarked. “Today I did a great job, I think. I was 2-under through three, but still two back of the lead and the whole day I was just trying to play well, I wasn’t trying to get the lead. So, I’m just going to try and do that again tomorrow and if I go out there and play well and lose, then somebody earned it and I’m fine with that. So I’ll just go out there and try and do the same thing.”

While Johnson has been in the hunt heading into Sunday before, Raleigh will mark the first time he finds himself in the final pairing. Prior to this week, the best position the newly-engaged third-year pro found himself in entering the final round was T6 (2017 Pinnacle Bank Championship presented by Heartland Chevy Dealers and 2018 Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by NACHER). Both events turned into a top-5 finish for Johnson, the only two of his career.

Despite not finding himself in this position on Tour before, Johnson will have plenty of prior experience to draw from. He won five times while at Auburn, the second most in school history. He also set the school’s single-season stroke average (70.37) and the single-season win record (three).

“This what we play for,” he said of being in the final grouping, “to be in the final group on Sunday and have the crowd follow you. It was fun out there today. I didn’t get off to a hot start, but I played well and I was patient. I’m glad to have a little bit of a cushion tomorrow. Like I said, this is what we play for. You sign up to be a little nervous on the first tee and have a chance to win.”

Nerves will serve as fuel for Johnson on Sunday as he chases his first Web.com Tour title and a chance to move into The 25 and lock up a spot on the PGA TOUR in 2018.

“Nerves are a good thing,” Johnson laughed. “I think if you’re a little nervous, then you’re doing the right thing. It should be a lot of fun. I have a chance to win and I haven’t really had a chance to win out here yet … so it’ll be fun to get out there and try to play well again.”

Also making the cut are Canadians Ryan Yip (-8), Roger Sloane (-6) and Seann Harlingten (-5).