Smith in the mix at Texas Open golf

Australian golfer Cameron Smith is tied fourth after three rounds of the Texas Open and trails leader Kevin Chappell by two strokes.

Cameron Smith

Australian golfer Cameron Smith is tied fourth after three rounds of the Texas Open. (AAP)

Australian golfer Cameron Smith is two shots off the lead going into the final round of the US PGA Tour's Texas Open.

Smith had two birdies and three bogeys on his way to a one-over 73 in the third round on Saturday (Sunday AEST) to sit at six under and tied fourth behind American Kevin Chappell who leads at eight under.

Chappell birdied three of his final five holes and took a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory with a round of one under.

"It was about finding a rhythm," Chappell said.

"I knew when I found it, I could extend it. You can get it going on the finishing stretch."

South African first-round leader Branden Grace, who rallied with two-under 70, is one shot off the lead in a tied for second with American John Huh, who produced an eagle-birdie finish for a round of one under.

Ryan Palmer, a West Texas native who cut through winds as strong as 25 mph (40kph), had the round of the day with four-under 68.

He's joined at six-under by second round co-leaders Bud Cauley (74) and Tony Finau (74), Sweden's Carl Pettersson (71), 2013 Texas Open champion Martin Laird (71), Kevin Tway (72) and Smith.

Chappell tied for seventh with Rory McIlroy at the Masters this month, and he got his late charge going Saturday after leaving an eagle putt short at the par-5 14th.

He tapped in to gain a stroke, and he made good two holes later with a 12-foot birdie.

He chipped to two feet on the downwind, 318-yard 17th and had another tap-in birdie.

Chappell, 30, flirted with trouble on the 18th when his second shot rolled next to a brook, but he had enough room for a full swing and reached the green to set up a two-putt par.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world