Niemann stays top at Genesis Invitational

Joaquin Niemann couldn't find a fairway over the final two hours at Riviera, but it didn't matter as he still pieced together a three-under 68 to set the 54-hole record and build a three-shot lead in the Genesis Invitational.

Cameron Young, the 24-year-old PGA Tour rookie, took two shots to get out of a plugged lie in the bunker at the par-3 16th where he made double bogey. He had a 69 and is three behind.

Joining them in the final group will be 24-year-old Viktor Hovland, who had eight birdies in his round of 65 that only got the Norwegian within six shots of Niemann.

Niemann, a 23-year-old from Chile, is poised to win for the second time on the PGA Tour and needs only one more round in the 60s to break the tournament-scoring record, which has stood longer than any other 72-hole record for a PGA Tour event.

Niemann is at 19-under 194, breaking by two shots the record last held by Justin Thomas in 2017.

Thomas, who started five shots behind Niemann with 36 holes to go, started with a birdie and then made 10 straight pars before a pair of bogeys sent him and other past major champions going in the wrong direction.

He birdied his last two holes for a 70 to be seven behind.

Adam Scott opened with two birdies until he lost momentum and shot 73 to fall 10 shots behind. Ditto for Jordan Spieth, who had only one birdie in his round of 73 to fade from contention.

Rising four places to be tied-sixth is Australian Marc Leishman.

The Victorian shot a 67 to go with his 70 and 66 to be 10-under for the tournament.

The final group Sunday will feature three players from three continents who were born after tournament host Tiger Woods won his first Masters in 1997.

For a tournament stacked with all of the top-10 players in the world,