Another sizzling, bogey-free round on Saturday sent Chris Stroud soaring into the final pairing for the closing round of the PGA Tour Corales Puntacana Resort and Club Championship in the Dominican Republic.

Stroud rolled in six birdies and an eagle for an eight-under-par 64 and a 54-hole total of 202. That left him one stroke behind 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell.

McDowell, who shot 73 on Thursday, carded his second consecutive 64.

Stroud’s 64 was a stroke higher than his lowest ever PGA Tour score. He’s posted a 63 three times — none of them since 2011. It was his seventh career 64 but the first on a par-72 course. It was also his best round of the 2018-19 season by three strokes.

A huge boost on the way toward Saturday’s 64 came on the hole that could easily have made Stroud a non-factor this week. The PNG ex made an eagle 3 on the par-5 fourth hole where he recorded a triple bogey 8 on Thursday.

Since that disaster, Stroud has made 12 birdies an eagle and 28 pars.

After starting the day tied for 11th, Stroud made his move by shooting 30 on the par-36 opening nine. He added two more birdies on the way in, including an impressive one into the wind on the 501-yard, par-4 18th.

Stroud, who ranks No. 1 in the field in scrambling, hit 9 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens. He would be leading had McDowell not gone nuts with his putter, taking only 20 putts.

Should Stroud play well enough Sunday to win his second PGA Tour event, he would earn a playing exemption through the 2020-21 season. He would not, however, get into the Masters because this tournament is considered a second-tier event due to the world’s top 64 players participating in the World Match Play in Austin.

He would, however, gain entry into the 2019 PGA Championship, the 2020 Tournament of Champions and the 2020 Players Championship. If he doesn’t win, he will make a significant move in FedEx Cup points provided he finishes in the top five.

While Stroud was enjoying a banner day, the other Lamar University ex in the field, Shawn Stefani, was shooting a 70 for 211 that left him tied for 44th.

Television coverage of the final round begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the Golf Channel.