SAO PALO (Diya TV) — Bhavik Patel shot five-under, but relented one place as his playing partner Andrew Svoboda shot six-under to firmly grasp the first-place position heading into the final round of the Brazil Champions golf tournament on Sunday.
Svoboda, who found himself one with the course during Sunday’s round, shot a bogey-free round of 65 and stands at 19-under after 54 holes. He spent the past three seasons on the PGA Tour, and has won two tournaments, both on the 2013 Web.com Tour. Patel, still seeking his first tour win in his 36th start, is just behind, has totaled 66 for 18-under.
The winner will take $126,000 of this week’s purse of $700,000.
Patel has become notoriously known for his 2015 suspension from the PGA Tour after violating the association’s anti-doping policy. He was suspended for one year, becoming the second player in Tour history to be suspended for PED usage. At the time, he said that he made a “lapse of judgment” regarding the use of performance-enhancing substances.
“In an effort to overcome an injury, I made a lapse of judgment,” Patel said. “I regret my decision but have learned from the experience and look forward to returning to competition.”
In 2013, Vijay Singh was originally suspended after admitting to the usage of deer-antler spray, which contains IGF-1, a banned substance in all major sports leagues. But the Tour reversed its decision after the World Anti-Doping Agency refined its ruling on the use of IGF-1.
Patel will be eligible for reinstatement on Oct. 7.
