Scheffler leads by 1 stroke in Houston

HOUSTON – Scottie Scheffler pitched in from 55 feet for birdie on the 14th hole, holed a 10-foot birdie on the next hole and avoided mistakes down the closing stretch for a 1-under 69 and a one-shot lead going into the final round of the Houston Open.

Scheffler, in his third year on the PGA Tour, has a 54-hole lead for the first time. He was tied for the lead going into the final round at The American Express in 2020 and finished third.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to get off to a good start and hopefully put myself out in front early and stay there,” Scheffler said.

Kevin Tway had the lead until he chipped in the water and had to scramble for bogey on the par-4 17th, and then missed a 10-foot par putt on the closing hole. He shot 73 and was among five player who were one shot behind.

Scheffler was at 7-under 203. Jhonattan Vegas, winless since the Canadian Open four years ago, had a 68 and will be in the final group with Scheffler on Sunday.

LPGA Tour

BELLEAIR, Fla. – Nelly Korda started with two birdies and finished the same way, making up plenty of ground along the way for a 7-under 63 that gave her a share of the lead with Lexi Thompson in the Pelican Women’s Championship.

Low scores ruled the day again at Pelican Golf Club, with 10 rounds at 65 or better.

Thompson did her part with a 65 that allowed her to join Korda at 16-under 194, with no shortage of contenders right behind them heading into the final round.

“I’ve been hitting it actually really close this week, giving myself a lot of opportunities,” Korda said. “Capitalized a little bit more today. But it’s going to probably take a low one tomorrow.”

Eight players were separated by four shots, a list that included defending champion Sei Young Kim (65) and long-shot Christina Kim (65), who earned a late sponsor exemption that all but ensured she would keep a full LPGA Tour card for next year.

European Tour

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Joachim B. Hansen and Francesco Laporta, players outside the top 150 in the world and with one win between them on the European Tour, share the lead heading into the final round of the Dubai Championship.

Hansen got up and down for par from a greenside bunker on No. 18 to shoot a 5-under 67 in the third round and move to 19 under par overall in the next-to-last event in the 2021 season.

The Danish player was soon joined in the lead by Italian Laporta, who two-putted for birdie from a long way out from the front of the green at the par-5 last to also shoot 67.