Omar Uresti, Kyle Higgins share lead in final event of 2016 PGA Tournament Series

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – If nothing else, Omar Uresti is persistent.

Uresti has yet to win a PGA Tournament Series event, but nobody has come closer the last week. He lost a playoff and finished second by a shot in his last two starts.

Uresti gave himself another opportunity to win with Thursday’s 8-under 64 that have him a share of the lead with Kyle Higgins in Event No. 6 at PGA Golf Club.

“It would be nice to pull it off and finish off the Tournament Series with a win,” Uresti said. “I’ve been improving. We’ll see if I can keep on improving.”

LEADERBOARD: PGA Tournament Series Event No. 6 

Uresti, who has made more than 350 starts on the PGA Tour, had nine birdies and an eagle. That background helps, but he still has to play well to win.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have played against the best players in the world, and that gets you mentally tougher,” Uresti said. “But there’s some good players out here. Bob Sowards and Rod Perry (who each have won two Tournament Series events this year) have proven that.”

Higgins, the PGA first assistant from Inwood Country Club in New York, also had nine birdies, thanks to needing just 24 putts on the Ryder Course. Higgins credited a lesson he received this week from Del Ponchock at Jupiter Hills for the low round.

“We worked on knock-down shots,” Higgins said. “I felt real comfortable. I had a chance to win my first Tournament Series event two years ago, but the nerves got the best of me. We’ll see how I do this time.”

Gregory McClimans of Clearwater is alone in third at 66. Perry, who leads the PGA Tournament Series money list with $15,416, is tied for fourth with Kyle Dobbs after 67s.

Six players are tied for sixth place at 68: Pete Catanzaro, Kirk Hanefeld, Neal Lancaster, Nick Frontero, Jeff Wells and Marshall Talkington.

The PGA Tournament Series is presented by Golf Advisor.