NAPA, Calif — Brendan Steele did just enough to keep the lead Saturday at the Open, even though he missed a chance to do more.
As one player after another piled up birdies on the closing three-hole stretch at Silverado, Steele managed three pars for a 3-under 69 and a one-shot lead over Andrew Loupe and Kevin Na.
Loupe had five straight birdies early and four straight birdies late for a 63 and was one shot behind. Na played the closing stretch in 3 under for a 64.
The PGA Tour season opener is wide open going into the final round. Sixteen players were separated by only four shots.
Steele was at 14-under 202 as he tries to go wire-to-wire.
Rory McIlroy never got anything going and was eight shots behind.
Ko, Hyun atop a crowd •INCHEON, South Korea — Lydia Ko and Sung Hyun Park rebounded to top the crowded leaderboard in the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship.
Ko overcame a double bogey with two late birdies in a 3-under 69, and Park bounced back from a second-round 74 with a 67 on Sky 72’s Ocean Course.
Defending champ shares lead •SAN ANTONIO — Defending champion Michael Allen shot a 3-under 69 for a share of the lead with Scott McCarron in the Champions Tour’s San Antonio Championship.
McCarron also had a 69 to reach 6-under 138 on TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Canyons Course.
Sullivan with 5-shot lead•VILAMOURA, Portugal — England’s Andy Sullivan shot a 4-under 67 in windy conditions to take a five-shot lead into Sunday’s final round at the Portugal Masters.
