2 on top in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — Beau Hossler and J.J. Spaun shared the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open lead Saturday after another breezy day at TPC Summerlin.
The 22-year-old Hossler birdied the par-4 15th and 18th holes for a bogey-free 5-under-par 66 — the best round of the day in the difficult conditions.
“It was one of those days you couldn’t get ahead of yourself at all,” Hossler said. “As soon as you do that, you get yourself in trouble. I just tried to keep the ball on the fairway and keep it below the hole as much as possible and manage my game. To get out of there bogeyfree is kind of a miracle, to be honest.”
The 27-year-old Spaun, the leader after the completion of the second round in the morning, bogeyed the par-3 17th and saved par with a 10-footer on the 18th for a 73.
“I just was trying to get comfortable out there,” Spaun said. “I was really uncomfortable considering the conditions and the position I was in. But, yeah, I kind of kept things together. Those last five holes were pretty brutal. So, to not really give too many shots back on those holes, it’s not so bad as it looks.”
Hossler and Spaun, both winless on the PGA Tour, were at 9-under 204 — the highest leading third-round total by six strokes since the tournament went to one course in 2008.
Tony Finau was three strokes back after a 69, while Tom Hoge (67), Gary Woodland (68), Chesson Hadley (69) and Patrick Cantlay (70) were 5 under.
Former Baylor School standout Luke List (70) was tied for 18th at 2 under. Stephan Jaeger (76), another former Red Raider, was among the group in 41st at par. Baylor grads Harris English (75-69) and Keith Mitchell (74-70) missed the cut.
Spaun, playing a PGA Tour event for the 35th time, finished 97th last season as a rookie in the FedExCup. Hossler tied for 10th last week at the Sanderson Farms Championship for his first top-10 in 14 starts.
Tied up in Turkey
ANTALYA, Turkey — Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Shane Lowry shared a twostroke lead after the third round of the Turkish Airlines Open.
Kiradech started Saturday at Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort five shots behind leader Nicolas Colsaerts, while Lowry was six shots back. But Colsaerts, who led by five at the turn in the third round, shot a 2-over 73 that gave the field hope.
By the end of the day, Lowry (65) and Kiradech (66) were on top at 14 under overall, with Colsaerts two shots behind alongside Padraig Harrington (64) and Justin Rose (64).
Aphibarnrat and Lowry each has three European Tour titles.
Feng ahead by two
IBARAKI, Japan — Shanshan Feng shot a 9-under 63 in the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Japan Classic and broke out of a crowded leaderboard.
Feng, part of a seven-way tie for first after the opening round, made seven birdies and an eagle Saturday at the Taiheiyo Club to move to 15-under 129 in the 54-hole event that finishes today. She is trying to become the first LPGA Tour golfer in 2017 to repeat as a tournament champion.
Ai Suzuki (65) was second, with Charley Hull (64) and Min Young Lee (68) five strokes out of the lead.