VALLARTA, Mexico — Andrew Novak built a comfortable lead at the turn and then poured it on by going 5-under par on the first five holes of the back nine on his way to a 9-under 62 to build a six-shot lead Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in the Mexico Open.
About the only thing Novak did wrong at Vidanta Vallarta was losing the handle on a club twirl at the par-5 12th while admiring a 279-yard shot that settled 20 feet away for an eagle.
That was part of his sublime stretch of three birdies and an eagle that stretched his lead to as many as seven shots. It was such a great day for Novak that even when he had a lie in the rough with a golf ball well below his feet, he hammered that out to 6 feet on the 14th for a birdie.
Novak was at 23-under 190, primed for his first individual title on the PGA Tour. His only other victory was teaming with Ben Griffin in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last year.
He had the low round of the day while playing in the last group, and goes into the final round coming off scores of 61-62.
“Very much the same, maybe a little sloppy at the end,” Novak said of the two rounds. “But the putter saved it.”
He holed a 6-foot par on the 16th and made a 10-foot par putt on the 17th after coming up short.
Matthieu Pavon of France birdied his last two holes for a 65 to get within six shots. Doug Ghim had a 64 and was another shot behind.
