Austin Smotherman continued his strong form in October by sharing the third-round lead at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Saturday. The 32-year-old Californian, who recently earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Bank of Utah Championship earlier this month, carded a 5-under-par 66 at the Port Royal Golf Course in Southampton, Bermuda. His total score of 16-under 197 matched that of Ireland’s Seamus Power.

Smotherman repeated his impressive 66 from Friday, while Power followed his initial rounds of 66 and 64 with a 4-under 67. Both players demonstrated consistent play to remain at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final round. Taylor Moore and Canadian golfers Corey Conners and Ben Silverman stood two strokes behind the leaders at 14-under, while five Americans—Tom Hoge, Chris Kirk, Chan Kim, Danny Walker, and Chandler Blanchet—were three shots adrift.

Chan Kim posted the best round of the day with a 7-under 64, vaulting 27 positions on the leaderboard amid shifting scoring conditions. Smotherman’s round featured a standout moment on the par-5 seventh hole where he hit a 351-yard drive, followed by a precise 9-iron approach shot that set up an eagle. Reflecting on the shot, he credited a bit of luck for the ball landing so close to the pin.

Over his final 11 holes, Smotherman recorded two birdies and two bogeys, maintaining composure to stay in contention. Power, who began his round strongly with birdies on the first and third holes, also birdied the short par-5 17th to join Smotherman at the top.

Weather conditions could pose a challenge for Sunday’s final round, with forecasts predicting strong winds and afternoon rain. Power acknowledged the difficulty ahead but expressed confidence in managing the elements, citing his prior experience playing in windy conditions at Port Royal. He also mentioned that tournament officials appeared to be preparing the course by slowing down the greens in anticipation of the weather.

Following his breakthrough win in Utah, Smotherman initially contemplated skipping the Bermuda event to rest but ultimately decided to compete. He cited his enjoyment of the tournament and the island’s atmosphere as factors in his decision. “It’s a week I look forward to,” he said. After some focused practice sessions, Smotherman arrived in Bermuda feeling refreshed and ready to compete, positioning himself well for a strong finish in Sunday’s final round.