Saturday 21 April 2018 23:27, UK
Zach Johnson will go into the final round of the Valero Texas Open tied for the lead with Andrew Landry on a record-breaking third day at TPC San Antonio.
Overnight joint-leader Johnson recovered from an uncertain front-nine to cruise home in 32 and card a 68 which lifted him to 13 under alongside playing-partner Landry, who kept a bogey off his card in his 67.
But the story of the third day was provided by Trey Mullinax, who played the last seven holes in six under par - including a pair of eagles - as he covered the back nine in just 29 strokes to return a sparkling course-record 62.
Mullinax was not on the radar midway through the round despite opening with three birdies in four holes, and he remained three under for the day with seven holes remaining after offsetting another birdie at the 10th with his only blemish at the next.
But he suddenly propelled himself into the reckoning with a stunning burst of scoring as he birdied the 12th before pitching in for eagle at the long 14th, and he holed out from off the green again after going long with his tee shot to 16.
The 25-year-old then converted a good wedge to six feet at the 17th, and he drilled a superb second to 15 feet at the last before rolling in the putt for his second eagle of an inward 29 which ensured the tournament record.
Mullinax's incredible finish left him just one off the lead after 54 holes, with Johnson hauling himself back into contention after an erratic start which featured two birdies and two bogeys over the first six holes.
The two-time champion got back on track with birdies at 11, 14 and 15, holing three times from 20 feet, and he capped his strong comeback with a confident putt for a closing four after Landry had pulled his attempt for third straight birdie at the last.
Ryan Moore shared the overnight lead with Johnson, but he lost ground on the leaders after a poor front-nine 38 which started and finished with bogeys, although he also staged a revival after the turn.
Moore matched his Ryder Cup team-mate shot-for-shot and followed a birdie at 11 with three in four holes from the 14th which salvaged a 70 and left him just two off the pace going into the final 18 holes.
Martin Laird kept himself in with a good chance of gaining his first win since lifting the trophy in San Antonio five years ago, the Scot bouncing back from an opening bogey to card a 69 which featured an incredible 83-foot putt for eagle at the eighth.
Laird is just four behind alongside Sean O'Hair, who finished birdie-birdie-eagle to post a 65, Chris Kirk (68) and local favourite Jimmy Walker, whose colourful back nine included five birdies and two bogeys as he signed for a 67.
Watch the final round of the Valero Texas Open live on Sunday from 6pm, only on Sky Sports Golf.