Brandt Snedeker fired a nine-under par 63 on Saturday to take the lead at the Canadian Open, where overnight leader Hunter Mahan withdrew to be at the birth of his first child.
Mahan, who led the $US5.6 million PGA Tour event by two strokes after Friday's second round, was on the practice range prepping for his weather-delayed third-round start when he received word that his wife, Kandi, had gone into labor. He departed right away for Dallas.
"Kandi and I are thrilled about this addition to the Mahan family and we look forward to returning to the Canadian Open in the coming years," Mahan said in a statement released after he had already left Glen Abbey.
In his absence, Snedeker stepped up with a bogey-free round that gave him a 14-under par total of 202 and a one-stroke lead over Sweden's David Lingmerth.
Lingmerth recovered from an opening bogey to post a seven-under 65, capped by an eagle at the par-five 18th.
Australian hopes dwindled in the third round, with Alistair Presnell the best-placed hope five shots behind Snedeker.
Presnell has been a model of consistency over the opening three days, shooting 72-67-68 to remain in contention while compatriot Aaron Baddeley's one-over par 73 led to him falling seven shots behind Snedeker.
Greg Chalmers shot a five-under 67 to be six shots off the lead as the other Australian on the leaderboard.
Americans Matt Kuchar (64) and Jason Bohn (66) were tied for third on 204, while a group of five players on 205 included Dustin Johnson -- who climbed up the leaderboard with a 63 -- and John Merrick, who followed up a course record-equalling 62 on Friday with a 72 thanks to an eagle at the last.
Snedeker didn't know Mahan had pulled out until he reached the seventh tee, when he noticed Mahan's name had disappeared from the leaderboard.
"That just kind of left the tournament wide open," said Snedeker.
He arrived at the par-five 18th needing a birdie to match the course record of 62 -- most recently equalled by Merrick a day before.
A tee shot into the left rough ended his record bid, but a par was enough for the lead.
Snedeker said his solid showing on the weekend of the British Open last week had carried forward.
"At the British Open I felt really, really good about everything I did," he said. "It kind of built over to this week."
The same had appeared to be true for Mahan, who played in the final group at Muirfield last Sunday and finished ninth.
But Snedeker, a father himself, didn't blame Mahan for abandoning the tournament.
"I wish them the best," he said of the Mahans. "I know they're probably both a little distraught that he's not here, but this is the best part of their lives ... The next 72 hours is going to be so much fun for them."
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