Blixt, Smith lead

Swede Jonas Blixt and Australian Cameron Smith prolonged their bogey-free run to three rounds in the new team format at the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., deftly adjusting to gusting winds and posting a 4-under-par 68 to widen their lead to four strokes.

Alternating shots on Saturday as teams did in the first round, the BlixtCameron partnership posted four birdies to improve to 19-under, building on a lead that stood at one shot through two rounds. They are the only team without a bogey.

The Kevin KisnerScott Brown and Nick Watney-Charley Hoffman teams were tied for second. Also still in contention are Jordan Spieth and Ryan Palmer, five shots behind.

The Madison duo of Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly trailed by nine strokes.

The final round, which will start earlier than planned because of rain in the forecast, will return to the “best ball” format used in the second round, in which each team takes the best score per hole.

LPGA Tour: Haru Nomura of Japan shot a 1over 72 on another windy day to extend her lead through three rounds of the Volunteers of America Texas Shootout in Irving.

Nomura was at 8-under 205 — two strokes ahead of Cristie Kerr, two-time Texas winner Inbee Park and 17-year-old amateur Eun Jeong Seong.

Stacy Lewis won at Texas in 2014 and had the day’s best round with a bogey-free 66. Lewis moved up to fifth place.