Todd Clements shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday in gusts topping 25 mph and will sleep on a two-shot lead at the Corales Puntacana Championship, his 18-under 198 total through 54 holes keeping alive a wire-to-wire bid that seemed improbable seven days ago.
Clements missed the cut last week at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky. Now he’s 54 holes into a tournament he has led from the first round, one start removed from packing early.
“You don’t turn up to any tournament not trying to win,” Clements said. “Did I think it would be this week? Not sure, but here we are.”
The 29-year-old Englishman is one of 50 DP World Tour players in the field for the co-sanctioned event, which runs opposite the British Open — a scheduling quirk that leaves the Dominican Republic with a thinner leaderboard but no shortage of wind. Clements called his own luck honestly: “I had my fair share of luck a little bit out there this week and that needs to continue for that to happen. But I think we just kind of lean on my past experiences and see where it takes me.”
That experience includes a win at the 2023 Czech Masters, his lone DP World Tour title. A second victory would carry PGA Tour status implications that matter considerably more than the trophy.
Two strokes back is Ben James, the former Virginia star playing just his fifth event as a professional. James earned his spot through the PGA Tour University ranking and matched Clements’ 67 on Saturday. He has now shot 67 or better in all three rounds this week.
“I’m playing some good golf,” James said. “I’m really excited for tomorrow. We’ll try to keep it going. Very excited for hopefully a good day.”
Four shots back of the lead at 14 under, a trio holds position: Max McGreevy fired the day’s low round, a 65; Stefano Mazzoli carded 66; and Gordon Sargent came in at 69. The gap between Clements and that group — four strokes — is the kind of margin that usually holds unless the leader backs up. In 25-mph gusts on a coastal layout, backing up is never off the table.
Blades Brown, the 19-year-old special temporary PGA Tour member, reached 13 under with a 67 that included a chip-in from 85 feet for eagle on the par-5 seventh. Brown is five shots off the pace and not in the final pairing, but he has been the field’s most compelling subplot — a teenager grinding through consecutive weeks on the road and finding his footing against professionals.
“This is what I love about this,” Brown said. “I’m playing a lot of weeks on the road and I’m learning my recipe for success. I’m just going to keep knocking on the door.”
The final round pairs a 29-year-old who has won once on the European circuit against a 22-year-old with five professional starts to his name. Clements has the lead, the track record, and the cushion. James has the hotter hand and nothing to protect. The wind will have a vote, too.
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