Capan One Back Going into Final Round of Memorial Health Championship

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Frankie Capan III followed a 9-under-par 62 at Pioneer Creek CC on Friday with a 64 on Saturday, and the resulting 54-hole total of 194 has him in second place, one shot out of first, going into the final round of the Memorial Health Championship.

Paul Barjon, a 30-year-old from France, started Saturday's round tied for first with Martin Contini at 127. He shot 66 and now is alone in first with an aggregate of 193 (20 under). Barjon has one victory on the Korn Ferry Tour, the 2021 HomeTown Lenders Championship, but the former TCU All-American is currently No. 147 in the 2023 Korn Ferry Points Standings.

The top 30 in the points standings at the end of the season will graduate to the 2024 PGA Tour.

Capan is No. 43 in the standings, but if the 23-year-old former Minnesota State Amateur champion (2020) were to finish solo second this weekend, he would move up to 17th.

On Friday, the 2020 MGA Player of the Year from North Oaks played the last seven holes in 5 under, including an eagle at the 510-yard, par-5 16th. On Saturday, Capan birdied four of the first six holes, and added birdies at the 13th (606 yards, par 5), the par-4 15th (421) and the 16th.

Capan concluded his college career at Florida Gulf Coast in the spring of 2022. Korn Ferry Q-School is generally considered an ordeal, but Capan cruised through the four stages, finiishing third in Pre-Qualifying, first in Stage 1, tying for first in Stage 2 and tying for eighth in the Final Stage. The Memorial Health Championship is the 13th Korn Ferry tournament that he has played in this year, and he's made $123,163 so far. His best finish was third place at the HomeTown Lenders Championship the last week in April. His other top 10 was a tie for sixth at the UNC Health Championship four weeks ago.

He goes into Sunday's final round one shot ahead of Nelson Ledesma, who is alone in third at 195 after a 64. Patrick Cover and Jared Wolfe are tied for fourth at 196. Contini, who shot 70 on Saturday, slipped back from a tie for first into a tie for sixth at 197.

Korn Ferry Tour

Memorial Health Championship

At Panther Creek Country Club

Par 71, 7,228 yards

Springfield, Ill.

Third-round results

1. Paul Barjon 65-62-66--193

2. Frankie Capan III 68-62-64--194

3.Nelson Ledesma 64-67-64--195

T4. Patrick Cover 71-62-63--196

T4. Jared Wolfe 68-64-64--196