Brian Harman was fortunate to be in a good spot when the third round of the Valero Texas Open began.
Harman recovered from a shaky start on the way to an even-par 72 on Saturday and a three-stroke lead at a windy TPC San Antonio's Oaks Course in San Antonio.
"When you get around this place and the wind blows and the pins are tucked, it's just a really hard day," Harman said.
Harman, who's at 12 under for the tournament, wavered at times after entering the day with a four-shot edge, but came through enough as several contenders stalled in their pursuits.
Harman had bogeys on two of the first four holes but birdies on 14 and 17 got him on track.
Yet, the late-round challenges included needing to scramble for par on the par-3 16th hole after his tee shot was in the fringe rough.
"Leaning on my short game today, chipped it in there close a few times," Harman said. "The stat sheet won't say it, but I made some solid par putts."
A lucky bounce boosted Andrew Novak's hopes of a first PGA Tour win after his wayward tee shot on the par-three 16th ricocheted off a fence behind the green, rolled down a bank and came to a halt just feet from the hole.
The American, who would earn a place at next week's Masters with victory on Sunday, slotted in the birdie putt on his way to a three-under-par 69 and second place on the leaderboard on nine under, three strokes behind Harman.
"Obviously, not a great shot, but I know if it's over there, there’s some space, it can be OK," said the 30-year-old, who signed the spot on the fence where the ball hit.
"I didn’t expect it to kick back and go on the green. That was obviously ridiculous. Not the best swing and sometimes golf rewards you."
Tom Hoge (68) is in third at eight under par and Kevin Mitchell (73) is fourth at seven under.
Not all the golfers held it together. Sam Ryder was in the final group Saturday, but his 77 sent him tumbling to 2 under for the tournament and tied for 28th place.
Mitchell's decline wasn't as severe on a day when only two players (Hoge and Novak) kept their scores under 70.
"You were just trying to find a green, trying to find a way to just stop the ball," Mitchell said. "Just wish I was a little closer to Brian. He made two birdies coming in. Still got a chance."
Chad Ramey (70), Finland's Sami Valimaki (70) and Japan's Ryo Hisatsune (73) all share fifth place at sixth under.
Canada's Corey Conners, a two-time winner of the tournament, had worked himself into contention before a disastrous stretch.
He began on the backside and chipped in for eagle on 17, sharing third place on the leaderboard. But Conners played his last two holes in three over, with a double-bogey six on 9.
Padraig Harrington and Seamus Power both missed the cut on Friday.
