Luke Donald of England shot 2-under-par 69 in windy conditions and took a one-stroke lead over Charley Hoffman and Jason Kokrak into the final round of the RBC Heritage on Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Donald, the former world No. 1 trying to win for the first time since 2012, carded three birdies in the first eight holes and added a 31-yard birdie putt from the fringe on the 10th hole to offset two bogeys.
“I think it’s a bit dangerous to say a place owes you,” said Donald, who has held the 54-hole lead at Harbour Town three times without winning. “Certainly, I’ve knocked on the door many times. I’d love to put on that tartan jacket (which goes to the winner) tomorrow.”
Hoffman, from Poway and UNLV, took a one-stroke lead with 26-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole, but closed out a 71 with bogeys on the last two holes after hitting his tee shots into the rough.
“I got off to a good start with a couple of early birdies and made a great birdie on No. 16 before finishing with those two bogeys,” said Hoffman, who claimed the last of his three PGA Tour victories in the 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
“I just have to get out of my own way, dig down deep and hit some quality golf shots tomorrow. I’ve done it before and hopefully I can show you what I’ve got down the stretch again.”
Kokrak, who won twice on what is now the Web.com Tour in 2011 but is looking for his first PGA Tour victory, birdied three of the first five holes on his way to a second straight 68.
Patton Kizzire made a late bogey in a 71 that put him two shots back in solo fourth, while Branden Grace made a birdie on the final hole to card a 69 and was another stroke back in a tie for fifth with Zach Johnson, who totaled 70, and Chris Kirk, who came in at 71.
Matt Kuchar, the 2014 Heritage champion, posted a 72 and was three shots behind in a tie for eighth with Kevin Na (66) of Diamond Bar, Bill Haas (69), Russell Henley (71) and Russell Knox (73) of Scotland.
Bryson DeChambeau, the NCAA and U.S. Amateur making his professional debut, shot 72 and was four strokes behind in a tie for 13th that included Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA, who was tied for the 36-hole lead but struggled to a 75 that included two late double bogeys.
Top-ranked Jason Day of Australia stumbled to a 79, making seven bogeys in the last 10 holes, and slid all the way from a tie for the lead to a tie for 40th.
