Varner nabs lead at RBC Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Harold Varner III shot an 8-under-par 63 to take a one-shot lead in the RBC Heritage on Saturday in pursuit of his first PGA Tour victory.

Varner had eight birdies in a bogey-free round to reach 11-under 202 and match Cameron Young’s opening score as the lowest at Harbour Town Golf Links this week.

Varner will need to be just as crisp Sunday. FedEx Cup champion Patrick Cantlay (70), 2019 British Open winner Shane Lowry (65) of Ireland and Erik van Rooyen (67) of South Africa were one shot back.

Former RBC Heritage champ Matt Kuchar (67), Hudson Swafford (66), Sepp Straka (67) and Aaron Wise (68) were 9 under.

Varner has two international victories, winning the Australian PGA Championship in 2016 and the Saudi International in February.

He appeared to shoot himself out of contention with his Friday finish, going 4 over his final four holes for a 72. But it was a ruling on the sixth that angered Varner — and fueled him for Saturday.

Varner’s tee shot on the par-4 sixth was called out of bounds. Varner told officials he saw a spectator pick up the ball that eventually was identified as Varner’s, and he might have put it back beyond the out-of-bounds marker.

The decision stood. Varner made a double bogey and fumed about it. “I would say I’m really good at putting things aside, but I did not put that aside,” he said.

Instead, he used the frustrating finish to fuel his run to the top. Varner birdied four of his first six holes — including that troublesome sixth — and took the lead with a 10-foot putt on the 16th.

■ LPGA: At Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Hyo Joo Kim shot a final-round 1-under 71 for an 11-under 277 total and a two-stroke win in the Lotte Championship. Hinako Shibuno (70) was alone in second, and Hye Jin Choi (69) was another two shots back.

Stephen B. Morton The Associated Press Harold Varner III walks off the 15th green Saturday after sinking a birdie putt in the third round of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.