SILVIS — Call it the Trophy House.

For the past two years, the champion of the John Deere Classic has resided during tournament week in a rural property located just west of Geneseo.

J.T. Poston captured the bronze buck trophy in 2022. Sepp Straka followed a year ago.

As the JDC gears up for the final round at TPC Deere Run on Sunday, 54-hole leader Davis Thompson is a newbie in the house this week.

“Hopefully, I can make it three in a row,” Thompson said. “That would be pretty cool. It seems like everybody is going to want to stay in that house next year.”

Thompson, a University of Georgia product like Straka, turned in a flawless 9-under 62 to reach 21 under and has a two-shot advantage over Eric Cole and Aaron Rai.

All three are eyeing their first wins on the PGA Tour.

Thompson and Rai shared runner-up honors at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit last week. Cole was last year’s Tour Rookie of the Year and has been on the cusp of winning.

“I don’t think anyone is ever due for a win,” Cole said. “Being close has got its merits too. That means you're doing a lot of things really well, putting yourself in that scenario.

“So I kind of think about it as the more times you're in that scenario, the more likely you're to win.”

It is more than just a three-man race.

Hayden Springer and C.T. Pan are four back at 17 under while amateur Luke Clanton, Michael Thorbjornsen and J.J. Spaun trail by five. Two-time winner Jordan Spieth climbed the board with a season-low 63 and is seven back.

Two of the last three JDC champions — Straka (2023) and Lucas Glover (2021) — overcame four-shot deficits in the final round to prevail.

Besides a trophy and winner’s check of $1.44 million, there are two exemptions at stake to this month’s Open Championship at Royal Troon available.

“There are a lot of great opportunities tomorrow,” said Rai, a 29-year-old Englishman. “There is a lot of motivation, a lot to play for anyway. Those two extra spots obviously are an amazing bonus.”

Cole inched closer to Thompson with a birdie at the par-3 16th and an eagle at the par-5 17th. A win would vault him into the Top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.

“To go out there and feel some nerves will be fun,” Cole said. “I kind of know what I’m getting into, so hopefully I’ll kind of play a little better this time.”

Rai made his only bogey of the week at the par-4 6th on Saturday, but converted birdies at 13, 15 and 18 to get himself into the final threesome with Thompson and Cole at 11:37 a.m. Sunday. It is the second consecutive week Rai is in the final pairing.

“After weeks like last week, you never quite know when you’re going to have that opportunity next, if you’re going to have that opportunity next,” Rai said. “It’s great to have that the following week.”

Clanton gutted through the back nine with a closing birdie to shoot 67 for the second straight day. He’s looking to join Nick Dunlap as an amateur to win on Tour this year, something that hadn’t happened in 33 years before this season.

“I’m going to have to play one heck of a round (Sunday) to do it,” Clanton said.

Thompson has the 54-hole lead for the first time since last year’s American Express Championship. He finished runner-up to Jon Rahm.

“It’s been a while,” Thompson said. “It’s cool to have hard work pay off and put yourself in these moments. Hopefully, I can take advantage of it tomorrow.”

Thompson made five birdies in his first eight holes Saturday, including holing a 35-foot bunker shot on the par-4 fifth.

Brendon Todd, who has stayed at the Trophy House in recent years, believes Thompson is on the doorstep of a breakthrough.

Thompson, 25, is 70th in the OWGR and has six top-20 finishes this year, including a T9 at the U.S. Open last month.

“I’ve been telling him for a couple of years that he’s capable of reaching the top of the game,” Todd said. “He can be a consistent Ryder Cup (player) for America and be top 10 in the world.

“He’s that good. I don’t think there is a whole lot of difference between his game and where Scottie Scheffler was three years ago.”

After Thompson’s performance in Detroit last week, Todd was confident the fellow University of Georgia standout could “keep the mojo going” for the Trophy House.

“(Davis) is just one of those guys that stays in his lane, is kind to others and works really hard,” Todd said. “You’ve got to respect him.”

Thompson, Poston, Denny McCarthy, Patton Kizzire, Ben Kohles and Greyson Sigg are staying at the property this week.

“It’s pretty laid back,” Thompson said. “We’ve just been eating dinner every night and hanging out, watching TV. All the guys in the house are great.”

Thompson is 18 holes from a three-peat for the Trophy House and more importantly a new lease on his golfing life.

“Everybody is hungry out here,” he said. “That’s what makes it difficult. There are a lot of losers every week out here. You can have great weeks and finish Top 10.

“It’s frustrating at times, but at the end of the day, this is what you work for, to put yourself in these positions.”