Late birdies put Chappell ahead
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Kevin Chappell found his swing late and moved a step closer on Saturday to his first PGA Tour win.
Chappell birdied three of his final five holes and finished with a 1-under 71, giving him a onestroke lead after three rounds of the Valero Texas Open.
Chappell is 8-under through 54 holes. He was runner-up six years ago in the event and is ahead of first-round leader Branden Grace, who rallied with 2-under 70, and John Huh. After an eaglebirdie finish, Huh shot 71.
“It was about finding a rhythm,” Chappell said. “I knew when I found it, I could extend it. You can get it going on the finishing stretch.”
Texan Ryan Palmer had the round of the day with a 4-under 68 in windy conditions. He is joined at 6-under by second round co-leaders Bud Cauley (74) and Tony Finau (74), Sweden’s Carl Pettersson (71), 2013 Texas Open champ Martin Laird (71), Kevin Tway (72) and Australian Cameron Smith (73).
Chappell tied for seventh with Rory McIlroy at the Masters this month, and he got his late charge going Saturday after leaving an eagle putt short at the par-5 14th. He tapped in to gain a stroke, and he made good two holes later with a 12-foot birdie. He chipped to two feet on the downwind, 318-yard 17th and had another tap-in birdie.
Chappell, 30, flirted with trouble on the 18th when his second shot rolled next to a brook, but he had enough room for a full swing and reached the green to set up a 2-putt par.
“I knew my game was in a good place,” said Chappell, who took the week off after Augusta to celebrate the second birthday of his oldest son, Wyatt.
Nick Taylor, of Abbotsford, shot 71 for a 4-under total. Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (76) is 3 over and Adam Hadwin (82), also of Abbotsford, is 8 over.