Colombia’s Munoz leads Spieth by 1-shot at Byron Nelson

LOS ANGELES: Sebastian Munoz fired an eagle and five birdies in a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to take aone-shotleadoverthree-timemajorwinnerjordan Spieth ater three rounds of the US PGA Tour Byron Nelson tournament.

Munoz’s 66 put him on 21-under 195 with Spieth on his tail ater an eight-under par 64 for 196.

Chile’sjoaquinniemanncardedhissecondstraight 65 for solo third on 197 while American James Hahn produced a sparkling 61 for 198, tied with American Justin Thomas who shot a 64.

Colombia’smunozstartedthedayinathree-way tie for the lead alongside Ryan Palmer and Davis Skinns and on a day when birdies abounded at TPC Craig Ranch in suburban Dallas he wasted no time in separating himself.

Munozrolledina39-footbirdieputatthesecond to grab the solo lead on 16-under.

Hahn, Spieth and Niemann had joined Palmer on 15-under, one shot back, when Munoz quickly separatedhimselfagain,holingoutforaneaglefrom a greenside bunker at the par-four sixth. Munoz’s shot from 57 feet flew straight at the hole, hit the pin and hopped in to give him a three-shot lead.

Munoz grabbed birdies at nine, 10, 12 and 14 -wherehefiredoutofagreensidebunkertothreefeet.

He bogeyed 16, and couldn’t take advantage of the par-five 18th ater a tee shot to the far right rough. But he had enough to keep his nose in front of local favorite Spieth.

The Texan is seeking a second victory in as many starts ater his triumph at the Heritage in April.

He is also warming up for next week’s PGA Championship in Oklahoma, where a win would give Spieth a career grand slam.

Spieth said he knew he’d need a low score to make progress in a tournament Munoz opened with a stellar 60 on Thursday.

He drained a 23-foot birdie at the third and an 11-footer at the fith, then got up and down from a greenside bunker for birdie at the sixth.

He strung together three birdies at eight, nine and 10 and almost drained a 22-foot eagle put at 12. He followed a birdie at 14 with his only bogey of the day at 15, but closed it out with a birdie at the last.

Spieth said it was special to head into Sunday with a good chance to win a tournament that was the first one his father ever took him to as a child.