SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda — Alex Noren received up-and-down on his final two holes Saturday, one for a birdie to regain the lead and one other for par to finish a 4-under 67 and preserve a one-shot lead within the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Noren will likely be going for his first PGA Tour victory and his first worldwide win because the French Open in 2018, the 12 months the Swede performed within the Ryder Cup.

“That is what you dream of, having an opportunity to win and being up within the ultimate group on a Saturday, Sunday. I actually loved it at this time,” Noren stated. “I got here off perhaps just a little colder begin, however I performed ok to type of get that 4 below in the long run. I’m very glad, pleased with that and glad to be within the lead nonetheless.”

For many of the breezy day at Port Royal, Noren was attempting to maintain a nostril in entrance of Camilo Villegas and Ryan Moore.

Villegas hammered an extended iron to about 12 toes to arrange a two-putt birdie on the par-5 seventeenth and momentarily tied with Noren. Villegas completed with a par for a 65 and will likely be within the ultimate group for the second straight week.

Moore got here up wanting the inexperienced on the seventeenth and watched it roll down a steep slope into the tough, taking away a positive birdie alternative. He shot 67 and was two strokes behind together with Matti Schmid of Germany, who had 5 straight birdies on the entrance 9 and closed out his spherical with an eagle and a birdie for a 65.

Noren hit a nifty pitch from the collar of tough behind the seventeenth inexperienced to 2 toes for birdie. Extra spectacular was his par on the 18th. His method got here up brief and rolled down a steep slope again to the green. He hit a pitch that checked up 3 toes wanting the opening for par.

Noren was at 19-under 194 and has performed his final 40 holes with out a bogey.

For every week like this, when the wind is manageable and Port Royal is the shortest course on the PGA Tour, loads of birdies are required to maintain tempo. Noren had three birdies in a five-hole stretch across the flip and threw in a number of good par putts.

“Tomorrow goes to be lots of guys chasing, so there’s going to be some low scores,” Noren stated.

The three closest pursuers got here into the Bermuda Championship attempting to safe full PGA Tour playing cards for subsequent 12 months.

Villegas was at No. 223 till a runner-up end in Mexico final week that received him inside the highest 150, and now he’s in vary of transferring into the highest 125. The PGA Tour season ends subsequent week.

“Three days, another, received to maintain doing the identical factor and we’ll see what occurs,” he stated.

Moore was at No. 140 and Schmid was at No. 148.

“It’s enormous for me in my place,” Schmid stated. “I believe I’m 148 on the FedEx checklist proper now. Have to preserve doing my factor and want another good end.”

Greater than preserving a full card, they will take into consideration successful.

Stewart Cink, who turned 50 this 12 months and has dabbled on the PGA Tour Champions, had a 66 and was three photographs behind. Adam Scott had a 65 and was within the group one other shot again. Scott rolled in a 40-foot putt on the par-3 sixteenth, birdied the seventeenth after which made a 25-foot putt on the finish to complete his string of birdies.