Pals Hodges, Barjon lead in La Quinta

Lee Hodges and Paul Barjon took advantage of a late tee time Saturday to miss the worst of a windy day and share the thirdround lead in The American Express in La Quinta.

“It was tough early and it kind of died on our back nine a little bit,” Hodges said. “It was off and on, but it was a good wind. The easy holes were playing a little easier, but the hard holes were hard. So you just had to make a couple pars and then get to those downwind holes.”

Playing together in the final group off the 10th tee on PGA West’s Stadium Course, the PGA Tour rookies and close friends each birdied the par-5 fifth, par-4 seventh and par-5 eighth and closed with a par.

“We’re just best buddies and we have a great time out there,” Hodges said. “We keep it really light and it’s easy to compete when your friends are playing well.”

Hodges, 26, a former Alabama player, shot an 8-under 64. Barjon, 29, a Frenchman who played at Texas Christian, had a 65.

“We just kind of feed off each other, so it’s been fun,” Barjon said.

Hodges opened Thursday with a 62 at La Quinta Country Club for a share of the first-round lead with defending Fedex Cup champion Patrick Cantlay, then shot a 72 Friday on PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course.

Hodges and Barjon, both making their 14th PGA Tour start, were at 18-under 198.

Tom Hoge was a stroke back after a 68 at La Quinta, playing in the second group off the first tee in the strongest wind of the day.

Seamus Power, also at La Quinta, was 16 under after a 66. The Irishman played a five-hole stretch on the front nine in 6 under, capping the run with an eagle on the par-5 sixth.

Hudson Swafford, the 2017 champion, was at 15 under with Harry Higgs and Lanto Griffin.

Griffin had a 69 at La Quinta. He’s making his first start of the year after injuring his back carrying his dog and withdrawing from the Sony Open last week in Hawaii.

Higgs shot a 67 on the Stadium layout in the first group off the first tee.

Cantlay, a stroke ahead entering the day, had an evenpar 72 on Stadium Course to drop four strokes back.

Trying to win for the third time in four starts, the Long Beach native and former UCLA player had four birdies and four bogeys.

PGA Tour Champions

Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain defeated New Zealand’s Steven Alker on the second playoff hole to win the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Ka’upulehu-kona, Hawaii.

Angel Jimenez earned the win when Alker bogeyed the second playoff hole at No. 18.

“It’s a nice way to start a season,” Angel Jimenez said. “It’s nice to be here winning again in Hualalai. It’s my third time, the last time in a playoff two years ago and now again.”

Angel Jimenez and Alker both shot final-round 66s to vault to the top of the leaderboard, setting up their playoff. Neither was among the leaders after 36 holes.

LPGA Tour

Nelly Korda is just ahead of a stacked field going into final round of the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions — the LPGA’S 2022 kickoff event in Orlando, Fla. Four women who have won majors are among the top five players.

Korda, the world’s No.1 and five-time winner in 2021 (including an Olympic gold medal), limited her mistakes for a 3-under 69 and is 13-under 203 overall. Korda, 23, won the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA on the same course, Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.

Danielle Kang, the runner-up at this tournament a year ago, and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, the 2020 TOC champion, each went bogey-free in matching Korda’s 69, and will begin the final round one shot back.

Kang, Brooke Henderson and Yuka Saso all have won major championships.

DP World Tour

Scott Jamieson stayed on course for a wire-to-wire win at the Abu Dhabi (UAE) Championship, making a 6-foot birdie at the last hole to retain his one-stroke lead at the end of the third round.

The Scot, ranked No. 336 and seeking his first title since 2012, shot 4-under 68 and was 11 under overall.