2025 RSM Classic leaderboard, highlights: Sami Valimaki leads after 3 rounds

They call it moving day for a reason.

Several players made big charges up the leaderboard Saturday during the third round of the 2025 RSM Classic, with the lead changing hands on multiple occasions. When the dust settled, Sami Valimaki emerged as the 54-hole leader by two shots at 19 under, with Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers in a tie for second at 17 under.

For those guys near the top of the leaderboard, a possible victory is in sight. For those inside or near the top 100 on the FedEx Cup Fall series points list, there's a different pressure kicking in, and that's the drive to obtain (or maintain) PGA Tour status for 2026. Only the top 100 on the points list, if not already exempt otherwise, will get that coveted PGA Tour card for next season.

Read below for round recaps, leaderboard updates, scores, highlights and more from Saturday's third round of the 2025 RSM Classic.

The RSM Classic 2025 leaderboard

Check tee times and keep tabs on every score carded at Sea Island Golf Club with the 2025 RSM Classic leaderboard.

Sami Valimaki shoots 65 to take a two-stroke lead at the RSM Classic

Sami Valimaki entered Saturday three shots off the lead and finished two in front just after 4 p.m. ET.

The 27-year-old from Finland signed for a 5-under 65 in Saturday's third round to finish the day 19 under. After a bogey at the second hole, Valimaki made four straight birdies on holes 6-9 and another at the 15th to take a commanding lead on what was, without a doubt, the toughest scoring day of the week so far.

"Wasn't the start what I was looking for, but then of course kind of the turnaround on No. 3, hit a great shot over there and a few good ones from 6 to 9, so just a nice little comeback" Valimaki said.

Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers are tied for second after 54 holes at 17 under. The pair played in the final group alongside 36-hole leader Andrew Novak, who turned in a pedestrian round of even-par 70 to finish the day 16 under. Still, all three of those men, as well as Zac Blair and Johnny Keefer (both 16 under) remain in the mix entering Sunday, but Valimaki is in control.

Zac Blair fires 64, grabs clubhouse lead

As of 3:25 p.m. ET, Sami Valimaki is holding a three-shot lead, but he's still on the golf course. The current leader in the clubhouse is Zac Blair, who made an impressive move up the leaderboard with a 6-under 64 on Saturday.

"I've been doing everything pretty solid. One more round like that I feel like I'd be pretty happy. Drove it a little better today and made a few putts, which is always nice," Blair said.

Blair started with three birdies in his first five holes and then made four birdies on holes 11-15 to get to 7 under for the day. His lone blemish came in the form of a bogey at the par-3 17th, which set him back to 16 under for the tournament and into a tie for second. Having entered the week at No. 170 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, Blair must win the RSM Classic outright to keep his PGA Tour card for 2026. Only the top 100 do, down from 125 in years past.

"I mean, I'm in a pretty easy position I feel like, got to win to keep your card," Blair said when asked what kind of stress he's feeling. "I knew I needed a good week if I wanted to do that and have played three good rounds, so one more would be nice."

Blair is well-schooled in the pressure of needing to perform to keep his job.

"As somebody that's finished 126 twice, I definitely would say it's not great not knowing where you're going to play or which tour you're going to kind of bounce in and out of. I'd rather not have that situation. I've played good, I've had a few really nice rounds the last like last month, basically since Utah and hope to keep it going."

Sami Valimaki opens up two-shot lead on the back nine

Sami Valimaki is rolling right along and has opened up a two-shot lead with four holes remaining in his third round. He made four straight birdies on holes 6-9 and sits at 18 under for the tournament as of 3:10 p.m. ET. There's a three-way tie for second at 16 under between Eric Cole, Patrick Rodgers and Zac Blair, who's already in the clubhouse with a 6-under 64 in the third round.

36-hole leader Andrew Novak stumbles to start back nine

Andrew Novak, who entered the day with a one-shot lead, made birdie on the first hole before making eight straight pars to close out a 1-under 34 on the front nine. Pedestrian, but not bad. Unfortunately, things took a turn for the worst at No. 10 when Novak made double bogey, dropping him to 15 under for the tournament and into a tie for sixth, three shots off the lead.

Zac Blair jumps into tie for second

Zac Blair is tearing up the Seaside Course, which has been the case all week. He's bogey-free and 7 under through 16 holes as of 2:15 p.m. ET and has moved into a tie for second at 17 under with Patrick Rodgers, one shot behind solo leader Sami Valimaki.

Sami Valimaki takes the solo lead at Sea Island

Finland's Sami Valimaki charged into the solo lead just before 2 p.m. ET. He made four straight birdies to close out his front nine and makes the turn at 18 under for the tournament, one shot ahead of Andrew Novak, who birdied the first but then made seven straight pars and remains 17 under.

Patrick Rodgers joins three-way tie at the top

Patrick Rodgers made birdie at No. 6 just before 1 p.m. ET to move into a three-way tie for the lead with Andrew Novak and Eric Cole.

Eric Cole surges up the leaderboard

They don't call it moving day for nothing. Eric Cole made five birdies in his first six holes and has joined Andrew Novak in a tie for the lead at 17 under as of 12:35 p.m. ET.

Final group tees off as third round gets underway at the RSM Classic

Andrew Novak made birdie on No. 1 and extended his lead to two shots to get his Saturday started with a bang. Novak is playing with Michael Thorbjornsen and Patrick Rodgers, who entered the day in a tie for second at 15 under. They both made par on the first.

The biggest movers from the early tee times thus far are Davis Thompson and Patton Kizzire, who are both 4 under through 9 and have worked their way into an eight-way tie for sixth as of 11:45 a.m. ET, along with Si Woo Kim and reigning Korn Ferry Tour champion Johnny Keefer.

Where to watch, follow the 2025 RSM Classic

Saturday, Nov. 22

• Golf Channel/NBC Sports app: 1 p.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET
• Sirius XM PGA Tour radio: 11 a.m. ET to 4 p.m. ET

What happened Friday at the RSM Classic?

Low scores happened, is what. Two more golfers matched the scoring record on the Plantation Course. For the second day in a row, the field broke the Plantation scoring record. The Seaside second-round scoring average of 67.625 was the fifth lowest in tournament history and the lowest for the second round. 

Oh, and The RSM has the lowest cut of all the tournaments on the PGA Tour in 2025.

About that RSM cut line. Who missed out on the weekend?

You can get caught up on the goings-on from Golfweek's Adam Schupak, who breaks down the details on the guys who just missed out and whose seasons have come to an end.

What is the prize money at the 2025 RSM Classic?

The winner in Sea Island will earn $1.26 million out of the total purse of $7 million. See the complete breakdown of all the money here.

Where do the golf courses at Sea Island rank on Golfwee's Best?

Sea Island Golf Club's Seaside and Plantation Courses in St. Simons Island, Georgia, Nov. 20-23. The Seaside course is ranked No. 1 on the Golfweek's Best 2025: Top public-access golf courses in every state, ranked for the state of Georgia, while the Plantation course ranks No. 6. The Seaside course ranks 25th on the Golfweek's Best 2025: Top 200 resort golf courses in the U.S. list and it's tied for 76th on the Golfweek's Best 2025: Top 200 Modern Courses in the U.S., ranked list.