Kent State’s Curtis leads Houston Open

Associated Press

san antonio

Ben Curtis is still ahead at the Texas Open, leaving him just one round from his first PGA Tour victory since 2006 in what has been his most humbling year as a pro.

But a pack of mostly non-winners could make redemption difficult.

Curtis, a Kent State graduate, finally made his first stumbles at the Texas Open — once holding up a group playing six holes back when hacking the ball into the neighboring fairway was his only escape from under a tree — but his 1-over 73 was enough to stay atop the leaderboard at 9 under Saturday.

Matt Every was grateful to end a long day in the same position where he started — three strokes behind the former British Open champion. Every shot a 73 after waking early to finish his suspended second round, but it’s his course-record 63 from Thursday that still has him in contention.

Mayakoba winner John Huh (67), Seung-Yui Noh (68) and Charlie Wi (71) were five strokes back at 4 under.

Aside from Huh, no one within five strokes of Curtis has won on the tour. Despite six years passing since his last victory, Curtis said he knows how to handle the final round: Simply worry about himself.

“In the past when I’ve played in these circumstances, that’s what I did: I just focused on my game and if at the end of 18 holes it’s good enough to win, great,” Curtis said. “If not, I have to shake the guy’s hand that won and move forward.”

The Texas Open is only the fourth PGA Tour stop this year for Curtis, whose tournament invitations are no longer a sure thing after his status plummeted near the bottom rungs of the tour.

Curtis preserved his lead despite two double bogeys, including a wayward drive on the par-5 8th that left the 2003 British Open champion hitting twice from the adjacent fairway.