Matt Fitzpatrick of England turned in a strong stretch on the back nine Saturday to shoot a 3-under-par 68 and keep the lead through three rounds of the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Fitzpatrick moved to 17-under 196 and increased his lead to three shots, but world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler will be his closest pursuer going into Sunday’s final round.
Fitzpatrick’s eagle 3 on the 15th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links capped a four-hole stretch that he played at 4 under. He settled down after three bogeys on the front side.
Scheffler shot 64 to climb into second. Brian Harman (63) joined Austria’s Sepp Straka (67) and South Korea’s Si Woo Kim (66) at 13 under.
Fitzpatrick will be aiming for his second victory of the year. He won a month ago at the Valspar Championship, just one week after a runner-up finish at The Players Championship.
Scheffler sizzled at the start Saturday with birdies on five of the first six holes.
Harman became the clubhouse leader before the final groups reached the round’s midway mark. Harman began the day in 27th place, but he posted birdies on the final three holes to be the first to get to 13 under.
The golfers at 12 under are Andrew Novak (65), Gary Woodland (66), Patrick Cantlay (68), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (68) and South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter (67).
