SAN ANTONIO — American Jimmy Walker shot a three-under-par 69 to open up a four-shot lead as winds returned to vex players at the Texas Open in San Antonio Saturday. Walker, who led by one after 36 holes, shared the lead with fellow Texan Jordan Spieth at the turn before a late surge took him to nine-under-par 207. Local resident Walker posted three birdies in five holes from the 14th, capped by back-to-back birdies at the finish. “It's a tough golf course,” said Walker, who won the Sony Open in Hawaii in January and is aiming for his fifth PGA Tour title. “You definitely want to find a way to extend the lead, but you have to be smart about it.” Walker took a bogey at the par-four 12th when his tee shot buried into soft sand in a bunker left of the fairway and had to use his hands to dig around the left lip to find the ball. Spieth shot a rollercoaster 71 that included six birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey at the par-three 16th to stand second at five-under 211. A two-shot swing at the par-five 14th where Spieth bogeyed gave Walker some breathing room and the margin was extended when Spieth launched his tee shot at the par-three 16th well right of the grandstand and took a double-bogey. FedExCup champion Billy Horschel birdied the last three holes for a 71 that put him at three-under, one shot ahead of a group of five at 214 that included two-time Texas Open winner Zach Johnson. Charley Hoffman, who trailed Walker by one after 36 holes, soared to a wind-blown seven-over 43 on the front nine with three bogeys and two double-bogeys and shot 79 to finish the day 12 strokes behind Walker. Phil Mickelson saw the highs and lows on the course in shooting a 74 to stand at level par 216. The big left-hander struggled with his short game in shooting a front nine of 40 then nearly holed out for double-eagle from 258 yards on the par-five 14th and made an eagle. Lee maintains lead South Korean Lee Mi-rim maintained her lead at the Kia Classic for the third successive day after a six-under-par 66 gave her a one-stroke edge Saturday heading into the final round in southern California. Lee entered the third round tied with Morgan Pressel but blew past her with a sizzling five birdies on the back nine to push her to 16-under at the Aviara course in Carlsbad. American Alison Lee also fired a six-under with birdies on her final two holes to get to 15-under and outright second. American Pressel faded after an even-par round that kept her at 10-under, while compatriot Cristie Kerr is one of two contenders at 13-under after a bogey on her final hole dropped her three behind. A group of four players sit at 12-under including world No. 1 Lydia Ko and major champions Paula Creamer and Pak Se-ri. — Agencies
