Adam Hadwin of Canada made two long birdie putts on the back nine and had a 4-under 67 to extend his lead to four shots in the Valspar Championship as he goes for his first PGA Tour victory.
More than two big birdies, Hadwin kept a clean card on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.
He was at 14-under 199, with Patrick Cantlay four shots behind. Cantlay, a promising amateur who missed the last two years with a back injury, had a 66 and will play in the final group in just his second tournament this year.
Jim Herman had another 71 and was five shots behind.
Hadwin shot a 59 in the CareerBuilder Challenge in January for a two-shot lead going into the final round and was runner-up.
It was the third time in the last four PGA Tour events the 54-hole leader was up by at least four shots, and all of them won comfortably – Jordan Spieth at Pebble Beach, Dustin Johnson at Riviera and Rickie Fowler at PGA National.
More than a big lead, there is not a lot of experience chasing the Canadian. Of the three players within six shots of him, only Jim Herman has experienced winning on the PGA Tour. Herman won the Shell Houston Open last year for his first victory. He had a 71 playing in the final group and fell five shots behind.
Rookie Dominic Bozzelli had a 70 and was at 8-under 205.
Hadwin also had a 54-hole lead in the CareerBuilder Challenge when he shot 59 in the third round. He closed with a 70 and was runner-up to Hudson Swafford. He started that final round with a one-shot lead over Bozzelli.
‘Guys are going to have to shot a good score to catch me,’ Hadwin said. ‘To go bogey-free today, I mean, I’d love to do that again tomorrow. I think somebody would have to play an extremely good round of golf to catch me. Make some pars and make guys come and get you.’
The Champion Golfer of the Year, Henrik Stenson, never made a move and struggled again getting his distance right in the wind, allowing for only a few reasonable birdie chances. He had another 71 and was seven shots behind, along with J.J. Henry (67).
Charl Schwartzel also made a move, shooting a third round 67 to add to his opening pair of 70s to lie joint seventh on 207, eight shots behind Hadwin and four off the second place.
Tyrone van Aswegen slipped back to 12th after a third round 75 for 209.
Photo: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
