Aldrich Potgieter takes two-stroke advantage at Rocket Classic

Aldrich Potgieter birdied five holes in a row to break away from the pack and grabbed a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Rocket Classic on Saturday at Detroit Golf Club.

The 20-year-old from South Africa posted a 7-under-par 65, tied for the best round of the day, to get to 19-under 197. Potgieter -- a rookie who's only made five cuts in 14 starts this season -- is vying for his first PGA Tour victory.

Five players are lurking at 17 under: Jake Knapp (66), Max Greyserman (66), Mark Hubbard (67), Andrew Putnam (69) and Chris Kirk (69). Putnam and Kirk were among three co-leaders entering the day.

Just three back at 16 under are Thriston Lawrence of South Africa (67), Michael Thorbjornsen (68) and Jackson Suber (69). Collin Morikawa shot 68 and is part of a tie at 15 under with Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard (67) and England's Harry Hall (68).

Potgieter holed out for birdie from a greenside bunker at No. 1 to jumpstart his round. The five-birdie run began at No. 4; he swept in a right-to-left 33-footer at the par-3 fifth hole and spun his approach at the par-4 sixth inside 2 feet.

Potgieter hit a 374-yard drive at No. 8 and sank an 11-foot birdie on his way to a front-nine 30. His putter cooled off on the back nine, where he made just one more birdie while staying bogey-free.

Playing alongside Potgieter, Hubbard rode the roller coaster all day, with nine birdies partially offset by four bogeys.

Knapp, who was coming off a course-record 61 on Friday, drew into contention by birdieing his final three holes, capped by a tight approach shot to 2 feet of the pin at No. 18.

Greyserman made five of his six birdies on the back nine.

--Field Level Media