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'Lumpy' Herron takes third-round lead at Texas Open

By CHIP BROWN / AP Sports Writer

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- In between puffs of his cigarettes, Tim "Lumpy" Herron lived up to his reputation as one of the best third-round players on the PGA Tour.

Herron had an eagle, seven birdies and a bogey in shooting a course-record-tying 64 Saturday and took the third-round lead at the LaCantera Texas Open with a 54-hole total of 14-under-par 202.

"I do get excited about Saturdays," said Herron, who has the third-best third-round scoring average on tour, 68.82. "It's nice to make the cut and have the chance to move up the leader board."

On Sunday, he will be paired with Rick Fehr, who was alone in second place after a 66 left him at 203.

"I've been at it long enough to know that it's just another round of golf on Sunday," said Fehr, who has one top-10 finish this year and two career PGA Tour titles, the last coming in 1994. "I'll be a little nervous, but I know I can't get overly worked up."

P.H. Horgan III, who had a 66 on Saturday, and Duffy Waldorf, who shot a 70, were tied for third at 12-under.

Mike Springer had a 67 and was another shot back and Craig Parry, who shot a 70, was alone at 10-under. Five other players were tied at 9-under.

With Tom Lehman missing the cut, the only two Ryder Cup players left in the tournament are Lee Janzen and Jeff Maggert, each at 3-under heading into the final round. Janzen shot a 73 Saturday, while Maggert had a 70.

Defending champion David Ogrin was at 5-under after a 70.

Second-round leader Bradley Hughes opened the day at 11-under and faded quickly, triple-bogeying the first hole after driving into the woods and having to take a drop. He finished with a 75 and was at 8-under.

Herron's appearance and demeanor is a cross between the actor Chris Farley and the Spalding character in the movie "Caddyshack."

The 27-year-old from Minneapolis, Minn., in only his second full year on the PGA Tour, is indeed lumpy at 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds. He smokes on the course and has a country club arrogance about him.

"You have to play with confidence and a little bit of cockiness," said Herron, who has five top-10 finishes in 26 tournaments this year and has one PGA Tour victory -- a wire-to-wire triumph at the Honda Classic last year.

For much of the day Saturday it appeared no one would take the lead. At one point, 10 players were clogged atop the leaderboard at 9-under, and 26 players were within three shots of the lead.

But Herron broke out of the pack on the back nine.

Opening the day at 6-under, Herron birdied Nos. 1, 4 and 5 before bogeying the par-3 6th.

He bounced back by making birdies on the par-5 10th, the par-4 12th and the par-3 13th before making an eagle on the par-5 14th with an 8-foot putt after a huge drive and 8-iron to the green. He got to 14-under with a 5-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th.

His 64 marked the third straight day the course record had been matched. First-round leader Gene Sauers and Hughes also fired 64s.

Sunday's forecast called for a break from three straight days of 100-degree heat with temperatures in the high 70s and scattered showers.

Herron said that won't bother him. His victory in the Honda Classic last year came under Sunday showers.

"I can play in the rain," Herron said. "The only thing I want to keep from doing is getting ahead of myself. When you're playing well, you start to think, 'If I win, I can buy a new car.' You have a lot of dead time in golf, and you have to be patient."