Zac Blair, Brandt Snedeker tied for 54-hole lead at Sony Open

HONOLULU – Even after missing a 2-foot birdie putt on his last hole, it wasn't hard for Zac Blair to see nothing but opportunity Saturday at the Sony Open.

Blair three-putted for par on the closing par-5 at Waialae and had to settle for a 6-under 64, giving him a share of the lead with Brandt Snedeker as the 25-year-old from Utah goes after his first PGA Tour victory.

Snedeker missed birdie putts of 10 feet and 12 feet on the last two holes for a 66. They were at 16-under 194, and they still had plenty of company.

Kevin Kisner recovered from a 5-iron that wound up on the other side of the corporate tents behind the par-3 17th for his only bogey of the round.

"I thought I killed somebody in the stands," he said.

He got up and down from behind the green on the 18th for a birdie and a 66, leaving him one shot behind. Kisner will be in the final group for the third time in his last four PGA Tour starts.

Si Woo Kim, a 20-year-old from South Korea, finished strong with a birdie and an eagle for a 65 that put him two back.

The 2-foot putt that he pulled on the 18th hole cost him the lead, though.

"Just pulled it. Nothing more to it," Blair said with a shrug. "Didn't hit the best putt and it didn't go in."

Saturday at least produced a little separation. Two dozen players were within five shots of the lead when the third round began. Now there are 12. That includes Matt Kuchar, who closed with six consecutive birdies for an 8-under 62 — a card that included two bogeys. Waialae has allowed low scores with only a moderate breeze all week.

Snedeker started the third round with a one-shot lead and kept at least a share of it until Blair, playing in the group in front of him, rolled in an 18-foot birdie on the 15th hole.

By then it appeared to be a three-man battle among Snedeker, Blair and Kisner.

Blair stayed near the leaders all day, catching Snedeker briefly with a birdie at the ninth and another at the 13th.

"I obviously don't hit it as far as most of the guys out here," Blair said. "But at the end of the day, I think it just kind of comes down to getting the ball in the hole, and if you're able to do that, you obviously seem to be finding yourself at the top of the leaderboard more often than not."