Zach Johnson, Jay Jurecic seize 36-hole lead with low rounds at Sanford International

Things to know

Charles Schwab Cup No. 2 Zach Johnson and open qualifier Jay Jurecic share the lead at 7 under entering the final round of the Sanford International presented by First PREMIER Bank & Mastercard on Sunday.

Zach Johnson, 69-64 – 133 (-7)

• The 50-year-old seeks his fifth career win on PGA Tour Champions (14th start).
  • 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (March 6-8)
  • 2026 Principal Charity Classic (June 12-14)
  • 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship (July 9-12)
  • 2026 Portugal Invitational (July 31-Aug. 2)
• The rookie, who turned 50 on February 24, has 12 top-10 finishes in 13 starts this season.
  • Entered the week ranked No. 2 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings
• With a win on Sunday, he would match Stewart Cink for the most wins this season (five).
• Looks to become the third player in Sanford International history to win the event in his first appearance
  • Previous instances: Steve Stricker (2018), Miguel Angel Jiménez (2020)
• This is his fifth time leading/co-leading entering the final round on PGA Tour Champions (3-for-4 converting lead into win).
  • Led at the 2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational (Won)
  • Led at the 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Classic (finished third) – Modified Stableford scoring
  • Co-led at the 2026 Principal Charity Classic (Won)
  • Led at the 2026 Kaulig Companies Championship (Won) – 72-hole event
• This is his sixth time playing in the last group of the final round this season.
• Won 12 times on the PGA Tour, including major titles at the 2007 Masters Tournament and 2015 The Open Championship

Jay Jurecic, 68-65 – 133 (-7)

• The 56-year-old seeks his first win on PGA Tour Champions (fourth start).
  • Best finish: T54 (2025 DICK’S Open)
• Earned a spot in the field via open qualifier, carding 5-under 66 en route to medalist honors at Bakker Crossing Golf Club on Monday
• Looks to become the 16th open qualifier to win on PGA Tour Champions
  • Most recent: Tommy Gainey (2025 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS)
• This is his first start of the 2026 season on PGA Tour Champions.
  • Last start: 2025 DICK’S Open (finished T54)
• Making his second appearance at the Sanford International, he finished T79 in 2021.
  • In the open qualifier prior to the 2021 Sanford International, he carded a 61 to earn medalist honors at Bakker Crossing Golf Club.
• Saturday marked his low 18-hole score on PGA Tour Champions (10th round).
  • Previous low: 69 (2025 DICK’S Open, 1st Round)
• This is his low 36-hole score on PGA Tour Champions (133).
  • Previous low: 145 (2025 DICK’S Open)
• This is his first time leading/co-leading after any round on PGA Tour Champions.
  • Previous best position after any round: T20 after the first round of the 2025 DICK’S Open
  • Previous best 36-hole position: T55 (2025 DICK’S Open)
• Looks to become the fifth first-time winner of the 2026 season
  • Zach Johnson (James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational)
  • Boo Weekley (Insperity Invitational)
  • Scott Hend (Trophy Hassan II)
  • Ben Crane (American Family Insurance Championship) – team event with partner Darren Clarke

Other notes

• World Golf Hall of Fame member and defending champion Retief Goosen (T3) seeks his sixth career win on PGA Tour Champions (162nd start) and second win of the 2026 season (18th start).
  • Last win: 2026 Mitsubishi Electric Classic (Modified Stableford scoring)
  • Entered the week ranked No. 5 in the 2026 Charles Schwab Cup standings
  • Would become the second multi-time winner of the Sanford International, joining Steve Stricker (four wins)
  • Would achieve the fourth successful title defense of the 2026 season on PGA Tour Champions
    • Steven Alker (Cologuard Classic)
    • Darren Clarke (American Family Insurance Championship) – team event with partner Ben Crane
    • Padraig Harrington (U.S. Senior Open)
• Rookie Crane (T3) matched the low round of the day (6-under 64) and enters the final round one stroke back at 6-under. Crane, who turned 50 on March 6, looks to become the fourth multi-time winner of the 2026 season on PGA Tour Champions.
  • Would join Cink (five), Johnson (four) and Alker (three)
  • Previous win: 2026 American Family Insurance Championship (team event with partner Clarke)
• Sponsor exemption Jamie Donaldson (T3) birdied his last three holes en route to a 66. Donaldson, who turned 50 on October 19, 2025, seeks his first win on PGA Tour Champions (seventh start).
  • Best finish: T4 (2026 James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational)
  • Last sponsor exemption to win on PGA Tour Champions: Scott Dunlap (2024 Insperity Invitational)
• Greg Chalmers (T8) made a hole-in-one on No. 17 with an 8-iron from 192 yards.
• The 67-year-old Michael Allen (T17) posted 66 to shoot his age or better for the third time on PGA Tour Champions.
• The 67-year-old Tom Pernice Jr.. (T65) carded 66 to shoot his age or better for the third time on PGA Tour Champions.
• The 72-year-old Jay Haas (T68) carded 72 to shoot his age or better for the 48th time on PGA Tour Champions.
• Doug Barron (back) withdrew during the second round.

Sprint to St. Louis presented by Compliance Solutions

• The Sanford International is the first of six events in the Sprint to St. Louis presented by Compliance Solutions.
• The three highest Charles Schwab Cup Points earners among the final five regular-season events will be deemed finalists for the Sprint to St. Louis.
• The three finalists will head to the Stifel Charity Classic with the best finisher among them claiming the $200,000 winner-take-all prize.