Todd leads Wilkinson after third round of Web.com Stadion Classic

ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgia grad Brendon Todd shot a 2-under 69 Saturday at the University of Georgia Golf Course to grab sole possession of the lead through 54 holes at the Stadion Classic on the Web.com Tour.

Todd, looking to become the third straight Georgia Bulldog to win the tournament after Russell Henley (2011) and Hudson Swafford (2012), made four birdies and two bogeys to finish at 8-under 205, one better than New Zealand’s Tim Wilkinson.

Alabama’s Nick Rousey trails by two after a 5-under 66 and Brazil’s Alexandre Rocha is three back at 5-under 208.

With the field battling steady wind, rain and brisk temperatures all day, Todd carded three birdies on the back nine before a bogey at the last to post one of just six rounds in the 60s.

“I was a little disappointed to make bogey on 18, but overall I made a nice couple of birdies coming in and that made it not sting as much,” said Todd. “I knew there wouldn’t be anything bad that could come from leading after today. To win here in Athens would be really special.”

With an ominous weather forecast looming for Sunday, Todd said he considered the possibility that the event might be shorted to 54 holes and Saturday’s third round may be the last golf played this week.

“I was looking at the leaderboards all day,” said Todd. “I don’t know how Tim was playing it, but I was basically playing to win today. I tried to treat it like a one-day shootout. You don’t know what the weather’s going to have for us tomorrow.”

Wilkinson, meanwhile, said he was trying to stay focused on the present in the difficult elements. A missed par putt inside five feet at the 18th would have tied him for the lead, but he missed for a round of 1-under 70 that left him a shot behind Todd.

“I was just trying to stay dry and play as well as I could,” said the 34-year-old left-hander, who added that his short game has been sharp enough to keep him close to the lead. “I’ve been chipping them really close, which makes it a lot easier than making six-, seven- and eight-foot putts for par.”

Wilkinson leads the field in scrambling at 85 percent, having saved par on 17 of 20 missed greens.

“It’s huge when you’re scrambling well,” he said. “My short game’s always been pretty strong, and you’re just not going to hit every green out there.”

Rousey’s 5-under 66 marked the best round of the day by two shots, giving him third place alone through 54 holes. Rocha, meanwhile, holed his second shot on the 18th to post a 3-under 68 and sit in fourth at 5 under. 

Third-Round Note:

--Lift, clean and place conditions were in effect for the third round.

--Tee times for the fourth round will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Play will be in threesomes off the first and 10th tees. Times were pushed back due to anticipated overnight and early-morning thunderstorms.

--No players shot in the 60s all three days at UGA Golf Course.

--Alexandre Rocha holed his second shot on the par-4 18th for an eagle, matching Shane Bertsch’s feat from Round 2. There have been six eagles for the week, with four coming on par 4s.

--Brendon Todd, currently No. 37 on the money list, could move as high as No. 3 with a win. Tim Wilkinson, currently No. 28 could move as high as No. 2 The winner receives $108,000 of the $600,000 purse this week.

--Todd’s 8-under lead represents the highest 54-hole lead in tournament history. Australia’s Paul Gow holds the tournament record, reaching 18-under through 54 holes in 2006 at Jennings Mill Country Club.

--Saturday’s final pairing of Russell Knox (76), Michael Putnam (74) and Daniel Chopra (74) were a combined 11 over par in the third round.

--Nick Rousey missed a 6-foot par putt on the ninth hole (his 18th) that would have given him the only bogey-free round Saturday. There were nine bogey-free rounds in the first two rounds.

“It’s probably more mental than physical because it’s another factor that you have to think about,” said Rousey. “I made some nice par saves. I kept hitting greens and being patient, and it all worked out in my favor.”