Birdie on the last gives James the weekend lead
Ben James finished Friday with a bogey-free 64 at El Cardonal at Diamante, and the last hole of his round was a birdie, his eighth of the day. That put him at 15 under after 36 holes at the World Wide Technology Championship in Cabo San Lucas, one clear of Peter Malnati.
He started on the back nine and made five birdies in a row from the 17th. A 15-footer on the 18th, which he called a momentum putt, set the run off. Back on the front nine he went quiet until the par-3 ninth, where a tee shot to 10 feet produced the eighth birdie.
Malnati matched the 64 with an eagle and seven birdies, but a bogey at his closing hole cost him a share of the lead. Zac Blair shot 68 and sits alone in third at 12 under. Denny McCarthy and Stephan Jaeger, both on 65, are tied for fourth at 11 under.
no renewal
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A big week for the 23-year-old’s 2027 status
James has been close before. Since he turned pro and joined the PGA Tour in June, he has four top-five finishes, including a third and a second. His card for next season is already safe, because he arrived as the top player in the PGA Tour University rankings.
What is still open is where he starts 2027. He came into the week 62nd in the FedEx Cup points race, and the players who finish between 51st and 60th earn spots in the first two signature events of next year. A win here would clear that line easily.
For Malnati, 39, the stakes are different. He is outside the top 100 and needs a strong finish to keep his status beyond this season. If the standings froze today, he would jump from 157th to 107th.
Darkness leaves five players to finish Saturday
Play stopped at about 5:50 p.m. local time with five golfers still on the course, and they will complete the round on Saturday morning. The cut is projected to stay at 5 under. Kristoffer Ventura of Norway and amateur Preston Stout are sitting right on that number with one and two holes left.
Billy Horschel and Camilo Villegas, both at 2 under, are on course to miss the weekend, as is Matt Kuchar at 1 over.
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