Hilton Head Island, United States--Troy Merritt shook off a double-bogey to keep his bid for a first US PGA Tour title on track Saturday at the RBC Heritage, firing a third-round 69 for a three-shot lead.
The American went into the round with a four-stroke lead after a course record-equalling 61 on Friday.
His 54-hole total of 14-under-par 199 put him three shots clear of a trio of players.
Defending champion Matt Kuchar, who played in the last group with Merritt, carded a 68 for 202. Brendon Todd joined the group sharing second with a sparkling 63 and Kevin Kisner posted a 67 to get to 11-under for the tournament.
Todd's 63 -- the third lowest round of the week after Merritt's 61 and Jordan Spieth's 62 -- included eight birdies without a bogey.
Five of his birdies came on the front nine at Harbour Town Golf Links and he added two more at 11 and 16 before chipping in for birdie at the par-four 18th.
"I came up a little short with the six-iron coming into the green and had a long chip with a lot of green," Todd said. "I used my pitching wedge and it went right at the hole. I was fortunate to get it on line there."
It was a further stroke back to another group of three on 203: former champion Jim Furyk (68), Brice Garnett (65) and Branden Grace (66).
Masters champion Spieth followed up his second-round 62 with a 68 that kept him in the hunt on 204, tied with fellow American Bo Van Pelt, who carded a 67.
Merritt's round included four birdies and a double-bogey six at the par-four eighth, where he was in the water with his second shot but rolled in a tough five-foot putt to limit the damage.
"It was one good shot on the hole," Merritt said of the putt. "It was just a momentum keeper.
AFP
