FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – Tripp Kinney carded a bogey-free 7-under 64 in the third round of the Explore NB Open to take sole possession of the 54-hole lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

Kinney, who held the 54-hole lead at the Bupa Championship in Mexico City, holds the lead heading into Sunday for the second time this season. Kinney, who has played 52 straight holes at par or better, is in search for his first career PGA TOUR-sanctioned win. With a victory, Kinney would move from No. 47 to No. 7 in the Fortinet Cup.

David Perkins, the 36-hole leader of the Explore NB Open, carded a 3-under 68 on Saturday and trails Kinney by one stroke. Perkins, also in search of his first PGA TOUR-sanctioned win, held the 54-hole lead at the Diners Club Peru Open where he went on to finish as the runner-up. Perkins, currently No. 8 in the Fortinet Cup, would take over the top spot in the season-long points race with a victory.

Dillon Stewart carded the low round of the day, turning in an 8-under 63. Stewart, who earned status on a PGA TOUR-sanctioned tour for the first time as a professional through PGA TOUR Americas Q-School, is making his PGA TOUR Americas debut in New Brunswick.

After second-round play concluded on Saturday morning, 68 players made the cut at 4-under. Final round tee times are expected to run from 6:50 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. local time, in twosomes off the No. 1 tee. 

Charting the leader

About Tripp Kinney (first/-16)

 

• Searching for his first career win as a professional in his 46th career PGA TOUR-sanctioned start, and 17th start on PGA TOUR Americas
• Best finish this season came at the Bupa Championship, where Kinney finished T7, and held the 54-hole lead
• Kinney’s wife, Hannah, is caddying for her husband this week in New Brunswick
• Finished No. 55 in the 2024 Fortinet Cup, with his best finish in 2024 coming at the Commissionaires Ottawa Open (T10)
• Earned Big 12 Conference First-Team All-Academic honors four times during his collegiate career
• Is the third member of his family, along with his grandfather and great-grandfather, to letter in a varsity sport at Iowa State
• Lists Royal Melbourne as his favorite golf course

Competition notes

 

Course setup: Par 71 / 7,132 yards; R3 average: 68.940

Weather: Sunny with a high of 28° C/82° F. Wind from the NW at 8-17 km/h with gusts up to 37 km/h.  

• Tripp Kinney holds the 54-hole lead for the second time this season after carding a 7-under 64 in the third round: Kinney held the 54-hole lead at the Bupa Championship in Mexico City, and went on to finish T7.
• Drew Nesbitt (T7/-12) of Horseshoe Valley, Ontario, carded a 7-under 64 on Saturday, and is the low Canadian after 54 holes.
• Hole No. 1, the 525-yard par 5, played as the easiest hole on Saturday (-0.809 strokes under par).
• Hole No. 8, the 210-yard par 3, played as the toughest hole at Mactaquac Golf Course on Saturday (+0.235 strokes over par).
• 68 players made the cut at 4-under par, after second-round play concluded on Saturday.