Moore Up by One at Valspar Championship


Ryan Moore recorded this third straight round in the 60s to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Valspar Championship. The $5.9 million PGA Tour event began Thursday on the difficult Copperhead course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Moore, a 32-year-old from Tacoma, opened with rounds of 69 and 68 on the par-71 layout. On Saturday, the four-time Tour winner began with 12 straight pars before reeling off four birdies on the final six holes. He stands at 9-under 204, a stroke ahead of Jordan Spieth.

As for his birdie string, Moore said at greenside, "I just hit it closer - finally gave myself some birdie chances and I rolled them in." As for the how he stays focused at the perilous Copperhead, Moore added, "You always have to be mindful on this golf course. You can't force it."

Moore will play with Spieth in Sunday's final group. The 21-year-old Spieth went out with two birdies and a bogey to make the turn in 1-under 35, then came home with two birdies and a bunch of par saves for a 68.

Trailing Moore by two is Derek Ernst, a 24-year-old Californian who won the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship for his only title. After struggling so far this season, with seven missed cuts in 11 starts and just $51,452 in earnings, the former UNLV player seems to have found something this week in Florida.

On Saturday Ernst got off to a rousing start with an eagle on the par-5 first before bogeys at the third and fourth holes for an even-par 36 on the front nine. On the back half, he tallied three birdies and a bogey on the 16th for a 69.

Of the Copperhead course, Ernst said at greenside, "It's brutal, mentally and physically. Sometimes it's best to get par." As for his play this week, he added, "It's great to get those competitive juices going again."

Trailing by three is Sean O'Hair, who's playing this week on a sponsor's exemption. The 32-year-old Texan opened with a 66 and carded a 72 and 69 Friday and Saturday. O'Hair, a four-time winner on Tour, is hoping to maintain his former form at a tournament (then called the PODS Championship) that he won in 2008.

Tied for fifth at 208 are Americans Patrick Reed (68) and Matt Kuchar (68) and Sweden's Henrik Stenson. Stenson, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 3 in the world, posted a 71.

One stroke further back are Daniel Summerhays (67) and Vijay Singh (70), while tied for 10th at 201 are Scotland's Russell Knox (70), Canada's Nick Taylor (70) and Americans Billy Hurley III (70) and Lucas Glover (72).

Brendon de Jonge started Saturday with a one-stroke lead over Moore, Spieth, Ernst, Stenson and Kevin Streelman. But the 34-year-old Zimbabwean felt the fangs of Copperhead, carding a 4-over 75 to drop into a tie for 14th at 211 with San Saunders, Chad Campbell, Luke Guthrie, Jason Kokrak, Brian Davis, Shawn Stefani, Jason Bohn and Streelman.

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