Jim Herman, seeking a first US PGA Tour title and a berth in next week's Masters, fired a bogey-free five-under-par 67 Saturday to seize a share of the third-round lead at the Houston Open. Herman had five birdies at the Golf Club of Houston and was joined on 11-under-par 205 by fellow American Jamie Lovemark, who had four birdies and two bogeys in a two-under-par 70. Sweden's Henrik Stenson posted the best score of the day, defying difficult windy conditions with a six-under 66 that left him tied for third on 206 alongside Dustin Johnson (70) and Russell Henley (68). American Roberto Castro was alone sixth after a 70 for 207. Second-round leader Charley Hoffman struggled to a two-over 74 to head a group on 208 that also included Kyle Reifers and Chez Reavie. World No. 2 Jordan Spieth carded a two-under 70 to lie five off the pace. Thompson leads over Ko Lexi Thompson sank an 18-foot eagle putt on her final hole to take a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Lydia Ko, Ariya Jutanugarn and Chun In-gee after the third round of the ANA Inspiration Saturday. After successive tap-in birdies at 15 and 16, Thompson needed to make a much longer effort at the 18th to pick up the two shots she required to snatch the lead outright at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California. The 21-year-old American successfully drained the putt to finish with a three-under-par 69 and 54-hole total of 10-under 206 at the first major of the LPGA season. There are 10 golfers within three shots of Thompson on a crowded leaderboard. Thai Ariya fired the low round of the day with a 67, while Ko and South Korea's Chun each carded 69s to move to nine-under. England's Charley Hull (69) and Japan's Ai Miyazato (71) were tied for fifth at eight-under. German Caroline Masson (68), American Michelle Wie (70), South Korean Park Sung-hyun (71), Norway's Suzann Pettersen (71) and South African Lee-Anne Pace (71) were all at seven-under. — Agencies
