Wyndham Clark's putt to force a playoff did everything but drop.
He became just the 14th golfer to do so at TPC Sawgrass.
The tour leader needs one more victory to achieve the career highlight.
For the second straight day, the tour leader was two strokes under par on one hole at Hainan Island.
The tour leader holed from the fairway on the par-four second hole.
Australia's Scott Hend's missed put on the 18th gave the 30-year-old his first professional win.
Just one shot separates the top five before Sunday's finale.
The pair are among five golfers lurking two strokes behind the leader at halfway.
The local golfer trails the first-round leaders by one stroke.