Things went well for Nick Thompson on Saturday. In fact, things have gone well for Thompson most of this golf season.

Thompson shot a 3-under-par 68 with the winds howling in the Miccosukee Championship and was in a tie for fifth place at 4-under 209 heading into Sunday’s fourth and final round. Thompson trails leader Shawn Stefani by eight shots.

Thompson, 29, is a well-known figure in South Florida golf, growing up in Coral Springs. He attended Georgia Tech and comes from a golfing family. Sister Lexi is an LPGA star, and brother Curtis plays for the LSU golf team and won the Dixie Amateur less than a year ago.

“I played well,” Thompson said of Saturday’s round. “I gave a couple back at the end, but it was blowing hard. It was a hard day.”

Thompson had four birdies with no bogeys on the front nine for a 31. He then added another birdie on No. 12 but bogeyed 14 and 15.

Recent rains kept the greens reasonably soft, but they also kept Thompson guessing.

“Some were soft, some were firm,” he said. “Some were fast and some were slow.”

Everything considered, Thompson called the course “a great layout” but called the conditions “iffy,” which can be blamed on recent rains.

Thompson, as happens every time he plays in the Miccosukee, had his usual entourage of family and friends following him on the course.

“I’ve got a lot of family here,” he said. He then rattled some of them off. “My mom, grandmother, uncle, my fiancé, her family, a couple of family friends. Whoever is in town tries to come.”

Staying at the Thompson home is also a bit crowded this week as another player in the Miccosukee tournament is staying there along with his wife and baby. Nick’s caddie is also staying at the Thompson Inn.

Thompson makes the trek back to Broward each day.

“A week in my own bed is great,” and something he won’t give up.

Then there’s the other perk. The meals prepared by his mother, Judy.

“It’s great food,” Thompson said. “It’s been a home-cooked meal every night so far.”

Thompson is on the verge of taking a major step in his golfing career. Heading into the Miccosukee, he ranked 19th in money-winnings on the Web.com Tour this year with $176,476. He has one second-place finish, and he has consistently finished high with 10 top 10s in the 23 events he has played.

He should move up even more in the money rankings with a respectable final round in the Miccosukee, and if he ends the year ranked in the Top 25 he will receive his PGA Tour card, the primary goal of almost everyone who plays on the Web.com Tour.

EARLY START

The start of Sunday’s final round has been moved up because of expected inclement weather.

Starting on both the No. 1 and No. 10 tees, play will start at 7:30 a.m. with the final group teeing off at 9:30 a.m. Unless there are weather delays, play is expected to conclude around 2:30 p.m.