The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chappell survives winds in Texas
Veteran has 1-shot lead in quest for first PGA Tour win.
Kevin Chappell found his swing late and moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour win. Chappell birdied three of his final five holes and finished with a 1-under 71 on Saturday, giving him a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Valero Texas Open at TPC San Antonio. He is 8 under through 54 holes.
Chappell 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.”
Ryan Palmer, a West Texas native who cut through winds as strong as 25 mph, had the round of the day with 4-under 68. He’s 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, who tied for seventh at the Masters this month, 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 2 feet on the downwind, 318yard 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 two-putt par.
Gusts that blew past 30 mph kept scores high — there were 14 scores below par Saturday. On Friday, 49 rounds were under par, and 69 subpar scores were recorded Thursday.
Champions: Fred Funk and Jeff Sluman teamed to shoot a course-record 10-under par Saturday to take the opening-round lead in the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Mo.
Funk and Sluman, who won the tournament in 2014, birdied five of their first six holes on the par-3 Top of the Rock course while playing modified alternate shot and closed with five more birdies on the back nine in a four-ball format. Davis Love III and Scott Verplank birdied their final four holes to finish at 6 under and in a tie for second place with Fred Couples and Jay Haas.
European/Asian tours: Bernd Wiesberger of Austria shot a 3-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Shenzhen (China) International.
South African Dylan Frittelli was second after a 68 with a birdie-birdie finish. Alexander Levy recorded the round of the week with a 64 and is in a four-way tie at 10 under that includes Bubba Watson.