By ,
Published May 02, 2016
Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (SportsNetwork.com) - Chris Smith and Scott Brown moved into a share of the lead after Saturday's third round at the Puerto Rico Open.
Smith posted a 4-under 68, while Brown matched the low round of the day with his 5-under 67. They are tied at 6-under-par 210. Both Smith and Brown have one PGA Tour victory.
Jon Curran (70) and Emiliano Grillo (72) share third place at minus-5 at Trump International Golf Club.
Second-round leader Alex Cejka had two bogeys and a double-bogey over the final four holes to fall from the lead. Cejka stumbled to a 3-over 75, which dropped him into a tie for fifth at 4-under-par 212.
The German was joined there by Adam Hadwin (68), Scott Pinckney (71), Fabrizio Zanotti (69) and Brendon de Jonge (71). Former PGA Tour winners Jonathan Byrd, Boo Weekley and Johnson Wagner headline a group of 10 players at 3-under 213.
Cejka had a birdie at the sixth to go with 13 pars in the first 14 holes. He was two clear of the field at that point, but he dropped back into a share of the lead after bogeys at 15 and 17. Cejka faltered to a double-bogey at the last to fall two behind the leaders.
Smith tripped to a bogey at the first, but came right back with a birdie on the second. After a par on the No. 3, Smith connected on back-to-back birdie efforts from the fourth to move to minus-4.
He parred three straight before a birdie at the ninth. Smith made it two in a row as he also birdied No. 10.
Smith stumbled to a bogey on the par-3 11th to dip back to 5-under. He atoned for that error with a birdie at the par-4 13th. Smith closed with five consecutive pars.
"The only hiccup I had was I hit a really good tee shot on the first hole and the wind didn't touch it and it got underneath the lip of the bunker. I got about halfway to the green and made bogey. But other than that, I played good," Smith said. "I'm starting to get comfortable playing golf again, which is nice, and it's fun. All three days have been fun."
Brown, the 2013 winner, got going with a birdie at the second. He came back with a birdie on the par-5 fifth. After three more pars, Brown birdied the ninth en route to making the turn at minus-4.
The 31-year-old made seven consecutive pars to open the back nine. Brown closed with birdies at 17 and 18 to join Smith at minus-6.
"I've been playing good all week. Got a few more putts to go in today and ended up shooting a good round. The wind died just a little bit for us this afternoon," Brown stated. "Putting has been tough early in the week with the wind blowing as hard as it's been. It's still blowing around a little bit, tough to get it close, but putting is a little bit easier."
NOTES: Smith and Brown have had a piece of the 54-hole lead one previous time in their tour careers, and they both went on to win, Smith at the 2002 Buick Classic, and Brown at this event in 2013 ... Brown will look to join Michael Bradley (2009 and 2011) as the only two-time winners of this tournament.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/smith-brown-on-top-in-puerto-rico