Strong finish keeps Snedeker in Safeway Open lead

LOS ANGELES: Brandt Snedeker closed with three straight birdies in a three-under par 69 on Saturday to maintain his three-shot lead at the Safeway Open, the first event of the US PGA Tour 2018-19 season.

As afternoon winds made for tough going on the Silverado Resort course in Napa, California, Snedeker came alive late.

Even for the round through 15 holes after two birdies and two bogeys, he roared home with a three-foot birdie at the par five 16th and a seven-footer at 17.

At 18, his putt from off the green left him a tap-in for his fifth birdie of the day and a 16-under total of 200.

American Kevin Tway was alone in second on 203 after a bogey-free four-under 68. Tway’s back-to-back birdies at seven and eight included a hole out from the bunker at the eighth. He added birdies at 16 and 18 to edge ahead of South Korean rookie Im Sung-jae, who claimed the last of his six birdies at the 18th for a 69 that put him on 204.

He was one stroke in front of American Bill Haas, who carded a 67 for 205.

“I knew the first part of the back nine was going to be playing tough, I was just trying to survive,” said Snedeker, who kept his cool as his lead dwindled.

“I wasn’t driving particularly great. I was just trying to get it up around the greens and make pars and wait until I could get some downwind holes. “I did a great job staying patient, realizing that I wasn’t losing ground by making pars there.”

Phil Mickelson, who started the day sharing second three strokes behind Snedeker, had his struggles, including a double-bogey six at the eighth on the way to a two-over 74.

The five-time major winner, who had been pleasantly surprised by his first two rounds after a tough 02 performance at the Ryder Cup in France last week, finished with three bogeys and three birdies, picking up a stroke at the 16th but unable to take advantage of the more favorable wind at 17 and 18.

He finished the day in a group sharing 15th place on eight-under par 208.