Golf: Thomas, Chirravuri have an outside chance at winning PGA Tour event in Kansas

Overland Park (USA), Aug 23 (IANS) Rayhan Thomas and Mahanth Chirravuri are in the Top-5 at the AdventHealth Championship, with the Indian and Indian-American, respectively, sharing fifth place after 54 holes on the Korn Ferry Tour in Kansas.

Both are at 18-under 198, five shots behind Japan’s Yuta Sugiura, who surged into the lead with a course-record-equalling eight-under 64. With one round remaining, Thomas and Chirravuri have put themselves in position to challenge for their best-ever finishes on the developmental circuit.

Thomas followed his opening two rounds with a one-under 69, making five birdies and two bogeys. The Dubai-born Indian has been one of the most consistent players in the field this week and enters the final round just five shots off the pace.

Chirravuri, meanwhile, produced one of the most spectacular rounds of the tournament. Starting from the 10th tee, the Indian-American made nine birdies on his way to an eight-under 64. A bogey on his final hole prevented him from going even lower, but the round matched his career-low score.

The performance has put Chirravuri in position to challenge for his first top-10 finish in only his 10th Korn Ferry Tour start. His previous best was a tie for 19th at the Pinnacle Bank Championship.

Julian Suri also climbed the leaderboard with a six-under 66 and is tied 39th at 15-under 201.

Sugiura took control at the top with a bogey-free 64 to reach 22-under 194. The 22-year-old Japanese has now established the first 54-hole lead of his Korn Ferry Tour career as he chases his maiden title.

Sugiura began the week with a career-best 10-under 62 and is bidding to become only the third Japanese winner on the Korn Ferry Tour. He earned his 2026 card through PGA TOUR Q-School after progressing through First and Second Stage and finishing tied 29th at Final Stage.

John Marshall Butler is second at 21-under after another bogey-free round, while Korn Ferry Tour winner Zack Fischer is third at 19-under following a bogey-free 64. Petr Hruby joins Thomas and Chirravuri in fifth at 18-under.

The final round will also be important for players seeking to secure their places in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. The top 156 players on the Points List following the AdventHealth Championship qualify for the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, the first of four Finals events.

–IANS

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