Taylor Pendrith strengthened his grip on the Bermuda Championship after moving three strokes clear at the end of the third round on Saturday.

After storming into the lead via his tournament record 61 on Friday, Canadian golfer Pendrith maintained his place atop the summit following the conclusion of the penultimate round.

PGA Tour rookie Pendrith carded a six-under-par 65 to be 17 under through 54 holes, above Danny Lee (65) heading into Sunday's final round at Port Royal Golf Course.

After bogeying the fifth hole, Pendrith was flawless from that point as the 30-year-old reeled off three straight birdies prior to the turn before gaining further strokes at the 10th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes.

"I knew I was going to get on a run at some point during the round," said Pendrith, who went seven under on his last 12 holes. "Was able to get four in a row and kind of really jump start the round."

New Zealand's Lee moved into outright second thanks to his solid day, which featured eight birdies and two bogeys in Southampton Parish, Bermuda.

Lucas Herbert of Australia climbed up to third, four shots behind Pendrith, thanks to his six-under-par 65.

Should either Pendrith, Lee or Herbert win the Bermuda Championship, it would mark the fourth non-American winner in as many weeks on the PGA Tour.

Patrick Rodgers (69) and Vincent Whaley (68) are tied at 12 under, while former Masters champion Patrick Reed – the highest ranked player in the field – finds himself nine strokes off the pace following a third-round 68.

Defending champion Brian Gay is a shot further back after posting a seven-under-par 64 to climb 41 positions.

Canadian Taylor Pendrith shot a tournament record 10-under 61 to storm into the lead at the Bermuda Championship on Friday after two rounds, ahead by one stroke from Patrick Rodgers.

Pendrith eagled the 17th hole before he ran off five consecutive birdies at the turn, threatening a sub-60 round before settling for par on his final two holes.

The 30-year-old Canadian had endured the worst of the wet and windy opening day conditions at Southampton Parish's Port Royal Golf Course, shooting a 70 before his stunning second round. Pendrith's round was a tournament record score and also a career-low round.

“Yesterday was some of the worst weather I've ever played in, just almost like surviving out there," Pendrith told reporters. "Didn't really matter how you hit it, you just have to hit shots. Today was a completely different story."

Rodgers also moved up the leaderboard aided by being on the good end of the draw and conditions, carding a seven-under-par 64.

The American had six birdies, one eagle and one bogey across his round. Rodgers' chip-in eagle on the seventh hole was a highlight.

Opening day leaders Brandon Hagy and Chad Ramey slipped off the pace, with the former battling for a one-over-par 72 which included a bogey and a double bogey to be five under after 36 holes.

Ramey did not fare much better, carding an even 71 which also included a double bogey, to be six under at the halfway mark.

Former Masters champion Patrick Reed – the highest-ranked player in the field – is five under after inconsistent rounds of 68 and 69.

Vincent Whaley, who had stood a shot off the pace after the first day, remains in contention after a four-under-par 67 to be nine under.

Whaley is ahead of Danny Lee and David Skinns who are both eight under, while defending champion Brian Gay managed to avoid the cut after an improved four-under-par 67 but is 11 shots off the pace.

Brandon Hagy and Chad Ramey shared a one-stroke lead following an interrupted opening day of the Bermuda Championship.

Hagy and Ramey carded six-under-par 65s before play was suspended due to darkness in Southampton Parish, Bermuda on Thursday.

In windy and wet conditions, which initially halted proceedings in the afternoon, there were more than 10 golfers who were unable to complete their first rounds at Port Royal Golf Course.

"You see winds like this, but normally you don't play in them," said Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who posted a 71.

Ramey was flawless throughout, while fellow American Hagy had a double-bogey, bogey and nine birdies.

"I think it laid down a little bit for us, but it was still pretty stout,” Hagy said. "But I hit a lot of good putts and they went in.

"I think there's going to be some times where you get gusts and the ball doesn't go in, but you kind of have to keep your head down and keep trying to hit some good shots."

Vincent Whaley stood a shot off the pace, while Danny Lee, Garrick Higgo, Seamus Power, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, David Skinns and Justin Lower were four under heading into the second round.

Former Masters champion Patrick Reed – the highest-ranked player in the field – endured a rollercoaster round.

World number 24 Reed ended the day three shots behind Hagy and Ramey, having produced a stunning 210-yard eagle at the 17th hole, sandwiched between two bogeys.

Overall, Reed finished with a double-bogey, three bogeys, an eagle and six birdies.

Defending champion Brian Gay, meanwhile, opened with a forgettable four-over-par 75.