Homa, Finau, Kim share 3rdround lead at American Express

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QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Max Homa has been tearing up the Stadium Course at The American Express for two days. If he can do it one more time Sunday, the Southern California native could be raising his second career PGA Tour trophy.

Homa made nine stroke off the course birdies and shrugged off record — to join Brian a double bogey on the Harman and Emiliano way to a 7-under 65 in Grillo at 13 under. the third round Saturday, Finau and Kim both joining Tony Finau and shot 67. Kim was bogeyfree, Si Woo Kim atop the while the streakier leaderboard at 15-under Finau bounced back from 201. a double bogey on the

Richy Werenski also 13th with three consecutive shot a 65 and moved birdies. within a shot of the lead The field played on the Stadium Course through sparse desert at PGA West near Palm rain in the afternoon. Spr i ngs. Precipitation finally fell

Scotland’s Russell in earnest when the final Knox shot the day’s low group reached the round with a 64 — one 18th hole, with Finau and Kim forced to pull out their umbrellas.

Second-round leader Sungjae Im struggled to a 73, leaving him five shots off the lead after four bogeys — including a triple bogey on the ninth after putting two straight shots in the water. First-round leader Brandon Hagy shot a 72 and was even with Im at 10 under.

Homa is in prime position for his second career win in his first tournament of the new year. He began the day just three shots off Im’s pace at 8 under, and he swiftly closed the gap with four birdies in his first five holes.

Homa has 17 birdies in the last two rounds on the Stadium Co u r se.

“There’s obviously a handful of very daunting holes, but I’ve been fortunate enough to play here a ton, so I have a pretty good feel for the place,” Homa said.

“I’ve been able to put myself in a position to have good looks for birdie, and I’ve been putting great.

It’s just something about these greens. It feels like home.”

The Burbank-born son of a well-known acting coach put his tee shot in the water and two-putted for that double bogey on the seventh, but Homa made up for it with birdies on five of his next eight holes, including three in a row down the back stretch.

Finau put his tee shot in the water on the 13th and then missed a 10inch putt for double bogey, but the Utah native rebounded with three of his eight birdies on a series of impressive approach shots.

Werenski charged into fourth with a round that included six birdies and was highlighted by an eagle on the fifth after an exceptional 224-yard approach shot left him a 4-foot putt.

The 29-year-old Massachusetts native is seeking his second PGA Tour win. After going bogey-free through his first 48 holes at The American Express, he finally missed a 10foot par putt on the 13th before rallying with two more birdies down the stretch

“I’ve been giving myself plenty of looks and just haven’t been converting them, and today I finally made some (putts),” Werenski said. “So I think we’re kind of turning the corner .. ...