McNealy steadies as Knous shoots into joint lead at Fortinet Championship

Maverick McNealy stumbled but held on for a share of the lead alongside Jim Knous after the third day at the Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort in California on Saturday.

Knous, playing on his second-to-last start of a medical extension, stormed into the joint lead with a seven-under 65 highlighted by five consecutive birdies on his front nine. It is the first time Knous has held a lead in his PGA Tour career.

The 31-year-old American was 30 at the turn, before birdieing two of the final three holes, including sinking a 17-foot putt. He hit 11 of 18 greens in regulation.

Knous joined McNealy at the top of the leaderboard at 14 under, after the 25-year-old Californian had held a two-stroke lead at the halfway point.

McNealy endured a dramatic day, bogeying four holes on the front nine, but steadied with four birdies on the final six holes to finish two-under 70 and retain a share of the lead.

The pair are two shots ahead of Max Homa, Scott Stallings, Mito Pereira, Troy Merritt and Beau Hossler.

Homa also shot a seven-under 65 to move up the leaderboard, with nine birdies and two bogeys for the day, carding 30 on the back nine.

Talor Gooch is alone at 11 under, ahead of 2021 PGA Championship winner Phil Mickelson who is one of 10 players with 10 under after three rounds.

After a bogey on the 12th hole, 51-year-old Mickelson rallied by birdieing five straight holes to stay in the hunt. The veteran finished the day with seven birdies for a five-under 67.