Barend Botha has a 54-hole lead over Ottawa Open commissionaires

OTTAWA, Ontario – Barend Botha leads through 54 holes of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open at 21-under after shooting a 5-under 67 in the third round at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

Botha made six birdies in the third round to hold the lead. Botha’s only bogey of the day came at No. 18. Botha began the week in solo third place after a 9-under 63 in the first round and has held the lead since Friday.

Botha was granted exempt status for the North America Swing after winning medalist honors at the PGA TOUR Americas Q-School at Soboba Spring Golf Course in San Jacinto, California. Botha, a native of George, South Africa, earned the status after completing his senior year at the University of Toledo, where he was named Mid-America Conference (MAC) Golfer of the Year after winning his second consecutive individual conference title.

It didn’t take long for the South African to start racking up accolades as he began his collegiate career. Botha was named the 2020-21 MAC Freshman of the Year after leading the Rockets in stroke average (73.5) and rounds of par or better (7). Botha has been named to the All-MAC First-Team four times in a row and has led Toledo in scoring average each year, setting the program record for best stroke average in 2022-23 (70.5).

Botha made his PGA TOUR Americas debut at the Bromont Open presented by Desjardins, where he finished T60. Botha will begin the final round in the final group from the first tee on Sunday at 1:50 p.m. It will be the first time in Botha’s professional career that he will play in the final group in the final round. A win would move Botha to No. 13 on the Fortinet Cup points list.

The final round of the Commissionaires Ottawa Open begins at 7:40 a.m. on Sunday, with tee times running until 12:50 p.m. from the first tee.