Andrew Novak goes low again for 62, builds six-shot lead in Mexico Open

VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — 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 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 six 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 six-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 final two holes for a 65 to get within six shots. Doug Ghim had a 64 and was another shot behind.

Mackenzie Hughes of Hamilton, Ont., finished on Saturday in a two-way tie for seventh with American Kihei Akina at 14 under. Akina, the 20-year-old sophomore at BYU, settled down after a bogey-bogey start. Another finish in the top 10 would give him another point in the PGA Tour University accelerated program.

Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is in a four-way tie for 22nd at 10 under, while Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont., is in a 10-way tie for 26th at 9 under. Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., is tied for 41st at 7 under and A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., is tied for 55th at 6 under. Corey Connors of Listowel, Ont., is tied for 60th at 4 under.

“It makes it easier for me to be in my own bubble because I know that something significant would probably need to happen for me to have a chance tomorrow,” Ghim said. “I’ll do my best to put any pressure on him and see what happens.”

Pavon needs something special, too, though he already is having a good week if he can hold his position. His two-year exemption from winning at Torrey Pines in 2024 runs out this year. Pavon came to the Mexico Open at No. 140 in the FedEx Cup. A runner-up finish would move him just inside the top 100.

Kihei Akina, the 20-year-old sophomore at BYU, settled down after a bogey-bogey start and posted a 68. He was nine shots behind in a tie for seventh. Another finish in the top 10 would give him another point in the PGA Tour University accelerated program.

Everyone is chasing Novak, who has made only three bogeys through 54 holes.

“You want to backup a really low round with something low, but you don’t usually expect that,” Novak said. “You expect usually there’s going to be some give, and you’ve just got to be patient with it the next day. I still kind of came out firing today, was throwing some darts, making putts and trying to stay out of my own way.”

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The Associated Press