Hahn’s 64 gives him Nelson lead
IRVING, TEXAS >> James Hahn knows how close he came to making a couple of more putts down the stretch in the third round of the AT&T Byron Nelson. He still did enough to take the lead.
Even with his eagle chance at the 16th and birdie putt at 17 both stopping just inches short, Hahn shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Saturday to finish ahead of several players who had birdie streaks. “That’s golf,” Hahn said. As for replaying those soclose putts in his mind, or thinking about having the 54hole lead, the two-time PGA Tour winner had other plans after finishing his round.
“Tell me what my tee time and I’ll just show up. You know, prepping for tomorrow I feel like is so hard. Sleeping on the lead, you can overthink it,” he said. “I just like to go home with my wife, our 2-year-old daughter, watch some cartoons. Just kind of keep everything low key, casual.”
With his 12-under 198 total Hahn was a stroke ahead of Billy Horschel, who birdied his last three holes for a 66 to take second place alone.
Jason Day had his own string of birdies, five in a row midway through his round and then a 60-footer at the 17th, during a 63 that was the best of the day and got him to 10 under. The fourth-ranked player in the world was tied for third with Kokrak, who shot a 72 after setting a Nelson 36-hole record with a five-stroke lead.
“I’m definitely not out of this golf tournament,” Kokrak said. “I’d rather be stalking people than any other way.”
Cameron Tringale and Sergio Garcia also finished with birdies on Nos. 16-18. Tringale was fifth at 9 under after a 67, with defending Nelson champion and Masters winner Garcia tied for sixth at 8 under after a 64 that also included three straight birdies at Nos. 11-13.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson shot a 71 with five bogeys and four birdies and was seven strokes off the lead, tied for 19th.
Funk maintains 1-shot edge
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. >> Fred Funk shot a 2-under 70 on Saturday to hold onto the third-round lead at the Regions Tradition.
The 60-year-old Funk has a 14-under 202 and maintains a one-stroke edge over Scott Parel in the first of the PGA Tour Champions’ five majors. Defending champion Bernhard Langer, who shot a 66, and Scott McCarron (69) are two shots back.
Funk was even over the final nine holes at Greystone and is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions individual title since 2012. Langer is bidding to match Jack Nicklaus’ record of eight major victories on the 50-and-over circuit
Thompson holds lead
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. >> Lexi Thompson remained in position for her first victory since a rules infraction cost her a major title, shooting a 2-under 69 in tricky wind conditions Saturday to take a three-stroke lead over In Gee Chun into the final round of the Kingsmill Championship.
The long-hitting Florida player had three birdies and a bogey — on the par-3 17th — to reach 14-under 199 on Kingsmill’s River Course.