Howell takes one-shot lead into final round at RSM Classic

Charles Howell III had a 2-under 68 for a oneshot lead in the RSM Classic at St. Simons Island, Ga., along with a reminder that winning for the first time in more than 11 years won’t be easy.

With two quick birdies, Howell stretched his lead to five shots.

By the end of the third round, his lead was down to one shot over PGA Tour rookie Cameron Champ and Jason Gore, who each shot 66 and made up ground on the back nine of the Seaside course at Sea Island.

Howell was at 16-under 194 as he tries to end 332 starts on the PGA Tour without winning.

■ At Naples, Fla., Lexi Thompson has control of the CME Group Tour Championship as she looks for her first win of the season.

Thompson’s 4-under 68 pushed her to 16-under after three rounds of the LPGA’s season-ending event, as she moved three shots clear of Nelly Korda.

■ At Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Patrick Reed, the reigning Masters champion, and Danny Willett, who won that event two years earlier, closed at 14-under 202 and will enter the final day of the European Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship as co-leaders.

■ At Sydney, Abraham Ancer shot a 7-under 65 to leave Matt Kuchar and Keegan Bradley and the rest of the Australian Open field well behind after three rounds. Ancer has a five-shot lead going into Sunday’s final round at The Lakes.

From staff and wire reports

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