STERLING, Va. — Lucas Herbert’s lead shrunk on Saturday, but it never disappeared. The Australian made just one bogey in a gritty 4-under 68 to remain atop the leaderboard at 21 under heading into Sunday’s final round at Maaden LIV Golf Virginia 2026. His lead is now three shots over Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia, who fired a 7-under 65 to move to 18 under and give himself a strong chance at his first LIV Golf individual title.

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Herbert’s 68 was a testament to his grittiness rather than his best golf. The Australian scrambled when he had to, kept the big numbers off the card and walked off Trump National Washington D.C. still holding a lead that looked untouchable 24 hours ago. He enters Sunday with the individual title — and potentially the LIV Golf U.S. Open exemption — within reach.

The story of the day, however, belonged to Josele Ballester.

The young Fireballs GC star put on one of the most remarkable individual performances in LIV Golf history on Saturday, carding a 12-under 60 — a course record at Trump National Washington D.C. and the lowest score to par of the entire 2026 LIV Golf season. Ballester made 10 birdies and an eagle on the day. A round he confirmed afterward was both his first-ever course record and the lowest score he has ever shot as a professional.

The 60 vaulted him from outside the top 10 into a share of third at 13 under, alongside Dean Burmester, Bryson DeChambeau and Scott Vincent.

“I don’t think it gets better than that for sure,” Ballester said. “It’s been a fantastic day of golf.”

The key to the round, Ballester said, was a putting breakthrough inspired by an unlikely source.

“I saw this video yesterday on Instagram from Brad Faxon, how he kind of like set up to hit the putt — just be a little less ‘stand on top of the ball,’ more of just feel and hit the putt and do all the work before in the routine. And I guess it worked.”

Burmester carded a 7-under 65 of his own to climb into the mix, while DeChambeau shot a 8-under 64 to put the Crushers GC captain firmly in the conversation heading into Sunday.

DeChambeau was part of a group that fed off each other’s energy throughout the day.

“It was a great round today. Everybody played great. We fed off of each other. It was a fun day of golf,” DeChambeau said. “Every once in a while days in golf where you’re like, man, this is fun. Especially as professionals, you know how hard it is, you know how difficult it can be out there. Today was fun. We gave the crowd a show today. So that was fun.”

Jon Rahm moved to 12 under with a 7-under 65 of his own, and Thomas Detry (T8) sits at 11-under after a 6-under 66 — keeping the U.S. Open exemption race very much alive heading into the final round.

On the team leaderboard, Fireballs GC and Legion XIII are locked in a tie for first at 35 under, with Ripper GC two shots back at 33 under in third. 4Aces GC and Crushers GC are tied for fourth at 31 under.