Seamus Power is set to play one of the most important rounds of his life on Sunday as his chances of securing a full PGA Tour card for 2026 remain intact after an excellent third-round 65 at the RSM Classic in Georgia.
Playing on the Seaside Course, where the two weekend rounds are staged, the Waterford man moved into a tie for eighth on 15-under par.
Finland’s Sami Valimaki led on 19-under as the leaders came towards the end of their rounds on Saturday night, with Power knowing that he is likely going to have to finish well inside the top five to make it into the top 100 at the Fed Ex Cup Fall standings.
The top 125 after the event will earn conditional cards, and currently Power is projected to jump 16 places to 113th, but a real low round tomorrow could see his season end in spectacular fashion. If the 38-year-old were to go on and win, he would earn a two-year exemption.
Power made a slow start and moved over-par for the day with a bogey at the fourth after finding the sand on his approach to the green, but he got that shot back at the next.
He sunk a 33-foot putt to eagle the seventh before a run of six pars slowed his progress down.
However, Power put together three birdies in three holes – from the 14th and 16th – to keep him in contention.
Sami Valimaki of Finland fired a 5-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.
Playing on the Seaside course, Valimaki bogeyed the par-4 No. 2 hole, recovered with four straight birdies on Nos. 6-9, and notched two other birdies to move ahead of Patrick Rodgers (68 on Saturday) and Michael Thorbjornsen (68) by two shots with a 193 total.
Andrew Novak, who led after the second round, dropped into a tie for fourth at196 after shooting a par 70 that included a double bogey on the par-4 10thhole and a bogey on the 3-par 17th.
Tying for the round of the day, Zac Blair moved up 18 spots into a tie with Novak and Johnny Keefer (67) with a 6-under 64, including seven birdies and one bogey.