HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Troy Merritt felt the fear Saturday he experienced during his successful amateur career.
The third-round leader at the RBC Heritage expects another healthy dose today.
Merritt shot a 2-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead over defending champion Matt Kuchar, Brendon Todd and Kevin Kisner. Jim Furyk, No. 10 in the world, was four shots behind, with Masters champ Jordan Spieth another stroke back and eager to win another jacket -- this one tartan.
"I was starting to feel the fear and being afraid, like I would when I was an amateur," Merritt said. "It's not a bad fear. It's the fear of being caught. I think it's worked for me in the past. "
Merritt finished at 14-under 199, two off the 54-hole scoring record set by Justin Leonard in his 2002 victory.
Todd made the big move with a 63, the day's lowest round. Kisner shot 67, and Kuchar 68.
Furyk led a group another stroke behind after a 68, with Spieth five shots back, also following a 68.
Brice Garnett and Branden Grace were tied with Furyk in fifth. Garnett shot 65, and Grace 66. Bo Van Pelt was 9 under along with Spieth after a 67.
The pack of seven players at 8 under included 2013 winner Graeme McDowell, past British Open champ Louis Oosthuizen and former world No. 1 Luke Donald.
All of them will have to chase down Merritt, the 54-hole leader for the first time in his career. His best finish on the PGA Tour is a second in Memphis last year.
Merritt moved to the top and built a four-shot lead Friday with his course-record tying 61 at Harbour Town Golf Links. He lost nearly all of that on the front nine Saturday before regrouping.
Merritt explained how that fear calms him and reminds him not to press and take chances to keep the edge.
"You go out there, play solid golf, take care of your business and you see how the other guy is doing," he said.
Spieth thrilled the gallery with his bounce-back 62 on Friday, and it was a full house around the first tee when the 21-year-old Texan started Saturday. But Spieth played more like he did in Thursday's opening 74 than in the second round, fighting to put shots close and make putts on the way to his 68.
Kuchar overcame a double-bogey 5 after hitting a tree on the seventh hole to keep within reach of playing partner Merritt.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Aphibarnrat leads
SHENZHEN, China -- Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a 4-under 68 to take the lead after the third round at the inaugural Shenzhen International on Saturday, although he let a five-shot advantage slip to two strokes with a double bogey-bogey on his final two holes.
Kiradech had nine birdies in his round to sit at 12-under 204.
Overnight leader Peter Uihlein birdied the par-5 17th hole that Kiradech double-bogeyed to gain three strokes on his playing partner. The American was at 10 under.
Pablo Larrazabal of Spain matched the low round of the day with a 7-under 65 to move into third place, one stroke behind Uihlein. He had eight birdies and a bogey on No. 17.
Emiliano Grillo (70), Matt Ford (70), Tommy Fleetwood (69) and Scott Hend (68) were in a tie for fourth at 8 under.
Bubba Watson struggled for a third consecutive day at Genzon Golf Club, shooting a 74. He's in a tie for 58th place at 2 over.
WEB.COM
Roach ahead by 1
LEON, Mexico -- Wes Roach took the lead Saturday after the third round of the El Bosque Mexico Championship, shooting a 7-under 65 for a three-round total of 13-under 203.
Roach is one stroke ahead of Kevin Tway. He had a 2-under 70 on Saturday and a 12-under 204. Miguel Angel Carballo was in third place with a 6-under 66 (206) and Stephan Jaeger (68) and Smylie Kaufman (70) were tied for fourth (207).
Sebastian Cappelen (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 73 (212), Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) had a 72 (213) and Zack Fischer (Little Rock) had a 75 (217). Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had a 76 (219).
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Pair set record
DULUTH, Ga. -- Olin Browne shot a tournament-record 8-under 64 to take the Greater Gwinnett Championship lead and still couldn't relax because Bernhard Langer was still on the course Saturday.
Langer matched the 64 to finish the second round only one shot behind Browne in the Champions Tour event. Langer made a 30-foot eagle putt on No. 18 for his 64 -- just as Browne predicted as he watched from the side.
Browne was at 12 under.
Rocco Mediate, who lost the lead with a double bogey on No. 11, was third at 9 under after a 67. First-round leader Tommy Armour III was 6 under after a 71.
Jesper Parnevik shot 69 and was tied for fourth at 7 under with Mark O'Meara (69), Stephen Ames (67) and Tom Pernice Jr. (68).
Mark Calcavecchia withdrew because of an illness following his first-round 77.
FRIDAY'S LPGA
S.Y. Kim in lead
KAPOLEI, Hawaii -- Sei Young Kim shot a 2-under 70 on Friday in wind gusting to 30 mph to take a one-stroke lead in the Lotte Championship.
With the breeze making birdies elusive at Ko Olina, the 22-year-old South Korean player reached 12-under 204 to break out of a first-place tie with I.K. Kim.
Sei Young Kim will take a lead into the final round for the second consecutive tournament. Two weeks ago, she had a four-shot advantage in the ANA Inspiration and finished fourth in the major championship.
Sei Young Kim won in the Bahamas in February in her second start as an LPGA Tour member.
I.K. Kim was second after a 71. Third-ranked Inbee Park was another shot back after a 69.
The top five are all from South Korea, with Jenny Shin four shots back after a 70, and Chella Choi at 7 under after 71.
American Paula Creamer (72) and Japan's Ai Miyazato (71) were 6 under. Defending champion Michelle Wie (73) had five bogeys and four birdies to fall eight shots back in her home event.
Sports on 04/19/2015