Kitayama holds onto Bay Hill lead over Scheffler, Hovland

Kurt Kitayama had to leave home to find his way in golf by playing circuits in Europe, Australia and Asia, all for a chance to get to the highest level. Along with three worldwide titles, he learned how to battle.

That might come in handy Sunday at Bay Hill.

Without a birdie on the front nine and no longer in the lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Kitayama fought back with a 25-foot birdie to start the back nine and two birdies over the final three holes Saturday for an even-par 72.

A 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole gave him a one-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland of Norway.

Now comes the hard part for Kitayama, a 30-year-old Californian going after his first PGA Tour victory.

Scheffler had five birdies over his last seven holes in warm gusts that made Bay Hill tough as ever. He finished with a 68 and was one shot behind. Hovland holed a bunker shot for one of his six birdies in a bogey-free round of 66.

Hovland finished runnerup to Scheffler a year ago at Bay Hill.

The rest of the contenders are what was to be ex- pected with a $20 million event and every PGA Tour member from the top 50 in the world.

Rory Mcilroy, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Max Homa all were within range of Kitayama if he were to lose ground or if Bay Hill was baked and brittle as it typically is for the final round.

For now, Kitayama held his own, even if it looked as though he could crater.

His two-shot lead was gone when one loose swing sent his drive well to the right and out-of-bounds on the par-5 fourth hole, leading to double bogey. He went out in 39 as Hovland planted himself at the top and Mcilroy made his move with a remarkable bogey-free round of 68.

Kitayama bounced back with four birdies on the back nine, and that final putt put him at 9-under 207. Tyrrell Hatton (66) was two behind, while Mcilroy and Harris English (69) were another shot back.

Echavarria grabs lead in Puerto Rico

PGA Tour rookie Nico

Echavarria of Colombia ran off four straight birdies early in his round Saturday and finished with a 7-under 65 for a two-shot lead in the Puerto Rico Open as he goes for his first PGA Tour victory.

Carson Young, who led the opening two rounds at Grand Reserve, had to birdie the last hole for a 71 and was Echavarria’s closest pursuer.

Young began with a fourshot lead, and the 28-yearold Colombian made up ground quickly with an eagle on the par-5 second hole and then four straight birdies starting at the fourth.

He went out in 30 and already had the lead when they made the turn. Echavarria was at 17-under 199.

The winner earns a spot in The Players Championship next week with its $25 million purse, along with spots in the PGA Championship and a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour. It does not come with an invitation to the Masters because the Puerto Rico Open is held the same week as the

Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Ko on top at Women’s World Championship

Defending champion Jin Young Ko shot a second consecutive 7-under 65 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Nelly Korda into the final round of the LPGA’S Women’s World Championship.

Ko had a 54-hole total of 14-under 202 after another weather-delayed day at the Sentosa Golf Club. She birdied four of her first five holes and two of her last three.

Americans held the other leading positions.

Korda shot 68 Saturday and was in second place, followed by first-round leader Elizabeth Szokol, who had a 70 and was three behind in third tied with Allisen Corpuz, who also shot 70.

Second-round leader Danielle Kang was in fifth place after a 72, four strokes behind Ko.

No. 1-ranked Lydia Ko shot 70 and was at 7-under, seven strokes behind.