Lower birdies 18th to take one-shot lead at Fortinet

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — With the wind whipping around the golf course in the afternoon and the greens hard and dry, Justin Lower knew there wouldn't be many opportunities for birdies.

He made the most of his chance on the final hole Saturday as he tries to win his first PGA Tour title.

Lower weathered the wind and shot a 3-under 69 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the season-opening Fortinet Championship.

“I just tried to really keep it as simple as I could, keep it in play, keep it in the fairway because I really think you can score from the fairway,” Lower said. “It’s very tough to score from the rough, especially with the pins tucked the way they are.”

Lower made five birdies on the round at Silverado Resort & Spa to give him his first career 54-hole lead in his 29th start on the PGA Tour.

“I’m sure I’ll be nervous, for sure, but just part of it," he said. “I mean, it’s why we play. Playing on the PGA Tour with a chance to win, it’s pretty cool.”

Defending champion Max Homa and Danny Willett were a shot back after even-par 72s. Byeong Hun An had a 71 to get to 11 under.

While several players who went out early in the day posted low scores in good playing conditions, the course got much harder late in the day when the wind picked up to wreak havoc on the players.

Willett took several minutes on the eighth green clearing off blowing leaves just before making a birdie putt that put him briefly in the lead at 13 under.

Workers with leaf blowers came out on the next hole to keep the green clean but Willett made a double-bogey 7 after his approach shot flew past the green.

“It was tough when we started the day, it was really windy,” Willett said. “It's hard trying to hold some of them front flags when it’s