Tommy Gainey Takes Morocco Lead With Late Charge

Tommy Gainey is one round away from turning the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco into another wild chapter in his late-career surge on PGA TOUR Champions.

Gainey fired a second straight 5-under 67 on Friday, moving to 12-under 134 and taking a one-shot lead into Saturday’s final round of the 54-hole event. The 50-year-old American finished with serious attitude, birdieing two of his final three holes to separate himself from a crowded leaderboard.

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Now the story gets fun.

Gainey is chasing his second PGA TOUR Champions victory after winning the 2025 Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS. That win put him in rare company as just the 23rd player to win on the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and Korn Ferry Tour. He owns one PGA TOUR victory, one Champions title and three Korn Ferry Tour wins.

He’ll have heat right behind him.

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt and Australia’s Scott Hend are both sitting one shot back at 11-under 135. Fichardt made the biggest Friday move, carding a Champions Tour-era tournament-record 65 that included seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 12th. Hend, the first-round leader, survived a triple bogey on the opening hole and still battled back for a 69.

Gainey has never before led or shared the lead entering the final round of a PGA TOUR Champions event, but history is on his side. In each of the three years the Trophy Hassan II has been played as a Champions Tour event, the 36-hole leader or co-leader has gone on to win.

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There’s also an American drought in play. Gainey is trying to become the first U.S. winner of the Trophy Hassan II since Erik Compton in 2005.

Jason Caron sits fourth at 9-under, while Greg Chalmers is fifth at 8-under. Still, Saturday starts with Gainey holding the target — and everybody else chasing.

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