SILVIS, Ill. — Francisco de Bethencourt of Milligan University's men's golf team continued play in the third round of the NAIA National Championships at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill. on Thursday. After making the cut as a top-six individual a day prior, de Bethencourt came back with another solid outing, carding a one-over par 71 to keep himself in contention heading into the final round.

De Bethencourt picked up a birdie on the par five 10th hole to begin his day. However, a triple bogey on 11 erased that effort and put him at two-over-par for the round through two holes. He steadied from there, playing the final seven holes of the back nine at two-over to finish at +4 through half his round. Then, he came out firing on the front nine, rattling off four birdies with just a single bogey to conclude the round with a stellar +1 score, putting himself firmly in the conversation near the top of the leaderboard. 

The round leaves de Bethencourt sitting in 23rd place, right on the doorstep of the top 20 and well within striking distance of a strong finish on the national stage. He tees off at 9:30 a.m. ET from hole 10 in the final round alongside Jose Vidal of Oakland City University (Ind.) and Nick Erickson of Ottawa University (Ariz.).

Click HERE for the full results from round three.