Erik Axley pulled away from the field, taking a four-shot lead after the third round of the Valero Texas Open at LaCantera Golf Club on Saturday.
Axley had made just 11 cuts in 26 career PGA Tour events but is well-positioned for his first career victory after his second consecutive bogey-free seven-under-par 63 moved him to 16-under 194.
Axley capitalised on a strong start - he birdied two of his first three holes - and an even better finish. He added one more birdie on the front nine and caught fire late with birdies on four of his final five holes.
Starting his late surge with a birdie on the 14th, Axley parred 15, then closed the round with three consecutive birdies to open a four-shot cushion over Ted Purdy, Frank Lickliter and Chris Riley.
Purdy and Riley each signed for rounds of six-under 64, while Lickliter carded a 65.
DA Points entered Saturday with a share of the lead but could not keep pace with Axley.
Points, who has made only eight cuts in 24 events this year, had managed seven birdies in the second round to grab a share of the lead at nine-under.
But he had just one birdie and three bogeys during his Saturday round for a two-over 72.
Former European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer slipped to eight off the lead after carding a 69.
