GREENSBORO, N.C. — Cameron Young drove off four straight birdies on the front nine and extended the lead to eight shots on Saturday before settling on a string of pars at a 5-under 65, giving a five-shot lead at the Wyndham Championship towards his first PGA Tour victory.
Young concluded a bogeyless 65 in the second round, delayed by the morning storm. He then extended his lead with four straight birdies. This includes the 30 footer on the 4th and the 5th 5th 20ft birdie with two putts.
“We played really nice golf for just about an hour,” Young said. “We had some opportunities in the back nine, but we didn’t make that many putts. But it’s nice to cruise along the way in the round and finish off the way I did.”
Colombia’s Nico Echabaria reduced the margin to four shots with three birdies on the back nine with a four-hole stretch. The final birdie gave him a 64.
Young, who had a 39 straight holes without bogeys at Sedgefield Country Club, took the 10-foot birdie with a beautiful rug on the par 5 15, until he lacked a 6-foot slide putt on the 14th hole, and a 10-foot birdie led by five on the 17th.
“I’m going to worry about what I’m doing, like I said, try to hit the best shot I can and make a hole in my putt.
Young is widely considered to be the best player he has never won on the main tour since his 2021 rookie season.
“I finished my second bunch. I did a lot. I actually played some good golf on Sundays in all cases,” Young said. “So it’s all I’m trying to do tomorrow. I’m starting from a nice place, so I’m trying to beat second place in as many things as possible.”
He was 20 at 190 under and had to set a tournament scoring record on Sunday. What’s important for Young is the title of the PGA Tour. In particular, he has his ultimate goal of joining Beth Page Black’s Ryder Cup team.
He was ninth in the 2023 Ryder Cup standings and left the team.
Young grew up in Sleepy Hollow in New York. His father was a longtime head pro. He swung the Ryder Cup the day the American PGA announced he would go to the public course on Long Island.
The victory only moved him to No. 15, but that certainly puts him in a conversation with his power and history on Beth Page. He became the first amateur to win the New York State Open in 2017, setting a course record with 64 at the then Beth Page Black.
“This was my goal this year,” Young said. “I’m just trying to see it and take in all the little things that happen every day. In the depths of my mind trying to imagine myself with that team.”
Echavarria was the only player within the eight shots of Young.
Defending champions Aaron Rye (69), Chris Kirk (67) and Mac Meissner (70) finished third.
Kirk is number 73 in the FedEx Cup rankings. The Wyndham Championship is the final event of the regular season and will determine the top 70 to advance to the lucrative PGA Tour postseason starting next week in Memphis, Tennessee.
Davis Thompson (78) was in the seventh tie. Gary Woodland was extremely popular when he returned from brain surgery almost two years ago, ranking 75th. He shot a 70, tied up to the ninth, leaving him in the bubble of advance to the playoffs of the FedEx Cup.
One of the biggest moves happened on Saturday morning. Matti Schmid was 70th in the FedEx Cup and was two shots on the cut line. However, he played 65 with 5 under par for the final six holes, then shot 68 in the afternoon. He was wearing a tie on the 13th.
There are also external opportunities, with Danish twins Nikolai and Rasmus Huigard, who are on No. 71 and No. 82 respectively. Both completed 36 holes with a 3-under 137, and thought they would miss the cut. However, the cut went from 4 under to 3 under.
Rasmus hojgaard shot his 29th in the back 9 after teeing off in 10th place in the third round. Both require low Sundays, but they didn’t shoot it completely.
