Kang regains lead in 3rd round resumption at Byron Nelson

DALLAS (AP) — Sung Kang regained the lead at the Byron Nelson with three birdies on the back nine Sunday morning in the completion of the suspended third round, going back in front after blowing a four-stroke advantage in the first nine holes the previous day.

Kang was 19 under after finishing a round of 3-under 68. That put him three strokes ahead of playing partner Matt Every, who had four consecutive bogeys on the back nine in an up-and-down round of 67.

After a six-hour delay in the start of the third round because of heavy rain, Every went from a four-stroke deficit to a one-shot lead before play was suspended because of darkness Saturday night with the leaders through nine holes.

The sky was sunny for the fourth round later Sunday.

Brooks Koepka, the world’s No. 3-ranked player who will go to the PGA Championship at Bethpage next week as the defending champion, made birdies on three of his last five holes for a 68 to get to 14 under. He played eight holes Sunday morning, with a bogey at the par-3 12th before his string of birdies to get into a tie for third with Scott Piercy (63).

Kang is playing in his 159th PGA Tour event since his debut in 2011 and is looking for his first victory. The 31-year-old South Korean lives in North Texas, about 30 minutes from Trinity Forest Golf Club.

Every started the third round with a chip-in eagle at the par-5 No. 1. He took the lead when he had his fourth birdie in a five-hole span at No. 8, the par 3 where Kang had his first birdie in 38 holes. They both parred No. 9 before play was suspended, with Every posting a 6-under 30 for the day.

The script reversed a bit on the back nine when play resumed Sunday morning. Kang started with a birdie at No. 10 to tie for the lead before Every went back in front by a stroke with his birdie at the par-3 11th hole. But Every then had four consecutive bogeys — one more than he had in his first 47 holes at the tournament.

Kang made a 16-foot birdie at No. 13 and followed with another birdie at the par-5 14th to get to 20 under. His lead was as much as five strokes before No. 16, when he bogeyed the 404-yard hole after Every buried a 35-foot birdie putt to get to 16 under and within three strokes.

Only 12 of 83 players finished the third round Saturday. There was a secondary cut before the fourth round, trimming the field to 71 players.

Jordan Spieth, without a win since the 2017 British Open and without a top-20 finish this season, was tied for 12th at 11 under after his second consecutive 67 at the course where he is a member.

Nicholas Lindheim was 9 under through 15 holes, making a push to match the course record 61 that Kang posted on the second round, when play was stopped Saturday night. He parred the final three holes of his third round Sunday morning for a 62 and was 12 under tied for ninth — after going into the weekend in 51st place.