SAN ANTONIO – Brian Herman survived the 30 mph wind by playing the final 13 holes without bogeys, giving Valero Texas an even par 72 and a three-shot lead at the opening, with only six players able to beat the par.
Herman had the opportunity to join them until he slightly missed a 12-foot birdie attempt on the final hole at TPC San Antonio.
He was pleased to finish with his first 54-hole lead since winning the British Open at Royal Liverpool two years ago. That was his final victory, too, and Herman has a great chance to end that drought.
“It’s just a tough day, man,” Herman said. “It’s a really difficult day when the wind blows and the pins are pushed in.”
He was 204 under 204, three shots from Andrew Novak (69), with Tom Hoge (68) entering the final round to get another shot. Keith Mitchell had 73, five people behind. Mitchell and Novak will need to win to enter Masters next week.
Novak is also looking for his first PGA Tour title, and he has a wall to thank for his chance.
He often hit the five irons on the right side of the par 3 16th hole. It hit a wall under the grandstand, for the most unlikely birdie, it hit a wall under the grandstand, bouncing around five feet into green and green.
“It’s obviously not a great shot, but I know there’s some space over there, if it’s over there, maybe it’s okay,” Novak said. “I didn’t think it would kick back and go to the green. It was obviously ridiculous. It’s not the best swing and sometimes golf rewards you.”
There were no many rewards on this day, but the wind blew from the opposite direction. He was unable to reach two of the par 5s on the Oaks course, and his average score was almost two shots in PAR.
Herman had more than two in his round when he made a second-half birdie for the bunker on the Pal 5 14th, reachable par 4 17th.
Mitchell also made birdies about those holes. It talked about the difficulties of the wind and the back nine, and the challenges that are facing.
“That (17) and 14 were the only two birdie opportunities we had all day,” Mitchell said. “Everything else you were trying to find a way to stop the ball. I wish I had been a little closer to Brian. He had two birdies coming in.
Hoge may have had the most notable round as he didn’t post one bogey. He was in the second group for the tee-off and soon realized it would be a challenge. It’s not a crackling flag, but a fierce green bouncing. It wasn’t easy to get something closer, either in the wind or on the player’s back.
The wind came out from the opposite direction from the previous two rounds.
“We tried to make as many pars as possible,” Hoge said. “Even in the leech hole just off the start of hole 1, I had a 56-degree wedge. When I landed the green, it was bouncing so much that I wasn’t sure I could hit the green.”
Mitchell got a bounce and quickly rolled on the 10th hole, his ball stopped a few inches apart for a birdie with ease, and holed a birdie putt from within 10 feet in the 12th. Hoge also birded holes 14th and 17th, the easiest to score in the third round.
Only the other three holes played in the PAR.
Starting with 63, Sam Rider had eight fives on the card and posted a 77 to get out of competition from performances in the final group.
Patrick Cantray finished the front nine with a pair of bogeys. Jordan Spieth was in the group who shot another shot after the age of 73.
Herman was able to easily slip into a pack that was as tough as the Front Nine. He slammed a great tip on the leg on the par 3 sheet, saving par from the par 5 eighth bunker and escaped with the par 9th with a 6-foot putt.
“I leaned over my short game today and closed there a few times,” Herman said. “The stats sheet doesn’t say that, but I’ve made some solid par putts – 5, 6, 8 footers – don’t show up nicely. But they keep your round alive.”