Bhatia Ace Propels Him Into FedExCup Top 30 at BMW Championship

Akshay Bhatia delivered the first hole-in-one of his PGA Tour career on Saturday during the third round of the BMW Championship at Caves Valley Golf Club in Owings Mills, Maryland. The 23-year-old used a 5-iron to ace the 227-yard 17th hole, moments after making a birdie at No. 16. He capped the day with a 4-under-par 66, moving to even-par 210 through 54 holes. The ace vaulted Bhatia from the FedExCup bubble into a projected place inside the Top 30, a threshold he must maintain to qualify for next week’s season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta. Entering the tournament, he ranked No. 29 in the season standings. Under a tournament promotion, the shot also earned Bhatia a new BMW automobile, while the automaker pledged to fund an additional Evans Scholarship for caddies. Bhatia, already a two-time PGA Tour winner, will start Sunday’s final round chasing his first playoff victory and a guaranteed spot in the FedExCup finale.