SIMMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Doug Ghim had a low-scoring, calm day Thursday, missing a putt of 59. He won a share of the course record at Sea Island’s Seaside Course, shooting a 10-under 60 at the RSM Classic, a big step toward retaining his PGA Tour card.
Davis Thompson, son of tournament director Todd Thompson, and Rico Hoey were also 10 under, each shooting a 62 at the Plantation Course, which was used for the opening two rounds.
Andrew Putnam was in the sub-60 round until he shot a 9-under 61 with two pars on the Seaside Course. Joining him with a 9-under 61 was Andrew Novak, playing for the first time since the Tour Championship in late August and since becoming a father.
Seaside is a stronger test than usual because of the strong winds coming off the water. Except for this day, the weather was very warm with no wind, perfect for low scores.
Ghim had four straight birdies, two from 15 feet, and on the 18th hole, his birdie putt from 20 feet slid down the side of the hole.
“I thought I was halfway there, but at the end of the day, that’s all I can do,” Ghim said. “I’m just glad I had the chance.”
Equally pleasing is the brand of golf he played in the final event of the year. Only the top 100 players in the FedEx Cup will maintain full status until 2026, when the field is reduced, down from 125 the previous year.
This was the start he needed as Gim finished 125th. I don’t know how high I need to finish to be in the top 100, nor do I want to know.
“Even if someone tells me, it doesn’t really change anything,” Ghim says. “I probably need to finish in the top three. I don’t know the exact numbers, but honestly, finishing third here is just as hard as winning. So I’m just focused on playing solid golf and hopefully getting a chance to win.”
Putnam was 119th. The remaining three of the top five scores will be fine next year.
Novak had a breakthrough year, winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans with Ben Griffin, competing well enough to reach the Tour Championship for the first time, and appearing in all four majors.
His only mistake was hitting his 10th tee shot into a tree, resulting in a penalty drop and a bogey just 200 yards from the tee.
“I haven’t played since August, so I’m very happy,” he said. “I’ve actually been working pretty hard and really seen a lot of progress. Then my wife had our baby two weeks ago, so I haven’t been working too hard the last few weeks. So it was nice to have nice weather here and play on a familiar course as opposed to RSM, which is always cold and windy.”
Hoey hit all 18 greens for the first time on the par-5 14th at Plantation, holed a 45-foot eagle putt. Davis Love III, the 61-year-old tournament host, took 71 shots.
Seaside’s average score was 67.8 (2.2 strokes under par), while Plantation’s average was 68.5 (3.5 strokes under par).
Johnny Kiefer, who led this year’s Korn Ferry Tour in earning his card, enters this week ranked 50th in the world and could use the big week to try to qualify for the Masters. At Seaside, he overcame a tough start with seven birdies in the final 10 holes for a 65.
Japan’s Takumi Kanaya carded a bogey 68 on his final two holes. Last week in Bermuda, he missed a short par putt in the wind, missing 16 spots in the FedEx Cup and finishing 99th.
