Sunday’s lengthy suspension of play put a damper on the final round of the 2024 Cognizant Classic at PGA National. The final pair of Shane Lowry and David Skinns completed just five holes and will return to par-71 format on Monday morning with Round 4 resuming at 8 a.m. ET.
The 54-hole leader, Austin Eckroat, held the tournament lead, sitting at 15 under thanks to a pair of birdies in the first seven holes. Erik Van Rooyen, who shot a 63 in the final round to finish the tournament at 14 under, leads the clubhouse and is likely to fall short given the number of birdies PGA National is producing.
By the time the leading trio began their final rounds, Van Rooyen had made a big move early in his final round, posting a 7-under 28. The two-time PGA Tour winner made made six consecutive birdies at one point — matching a personal best — and recorded the lowest nine-hole score on the PGA Tour this season, tied with Jake Knapp from the Mexican Open and Wyndham Clark from the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
Both of those players have won their respective tournaments, but Van Rooyen’s path to the winner’s circle will certainly be more difficult given he has no more holes left.
“I had no expectations,” Van Rooyen said, smiling. “If I’m within two minutes and those guys are coming up to the 15th tee, I’ll be here.”
The South African has since been overtaken by Eckroat, who is looking for his first PGA Tour victory. Sophomores on the Tour have made it a habit to immerse themselves in weekend concerts; He previously had a 54-hole lead at Byron Nelson 2023 and a 36-hole lead at this year’s Sony Open.
While he couldn’t turn those advantages into wins, Eckroat compiled experience that he plans to put to good use on Monday. He is now the only one of the three 54-hole leaders in the red on Sunday at 2 under as Skinns dropped two shots in his first five holes and Lowry made bogey in par-3 4th.
Here’s a look at the top of the charts Entering the final day of the 2024 Cognizant Classic.
1. Austin Eckroat: -15 (7)
2. Erik Van Rooyen: -14 (F)
3. Jake Knapp: -13 (15)
T4. Keith Mitchell: -12 (F)
T4. Billy Horschel: -12 (17)
T4. Alex Noren: -12 (12)
T4. Shane Lowry: -12 (5)
T8. Tyson Alexander: -11 (F)
T8. Doug Pin: -11 (F)
T8. Garrick Higgo: -11 (17)
T8. Nico Echavarria: -11 (13)
T8. Kevin Yu: -11 (8)
T8. Martin Laird: -11 (7)
T8. David Skins: -11 (5)
