Davis, Svensson stay in fight at PGA Tour teams event

Australia's Cam Davis and Canadian teammate Adam Svensson have combined well to stay in contention but have their work cut out to catch Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin in the PGA Tour's Zurich Classic.

Americans Novak and Griffin carded a 11-under 61 in Saturday's best-ball play to get to 27 under and will take a three-shot lead into Sunday's alternate shot final round of the teams event at TPC of Louisiana.

Davis and Svensson also shot 61, with Svensson pouring in seven birdies and Davis grabbing four, leaving them tied sixth at 22 under.

Australian rookie Karl Vilips was just a shot further back after he and American partner Michael Thorbjornsen produced a 61, with Vilips contributing an eagle and three birdies.

Japanese duo Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya (61) were tied second with Americans Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III (60).

Masters champion Rory McIlroy and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, the defending champions, were in the group tied sixth after a 61. McIlroy returned from a weather delay of about 90 minutes to make a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th.

"The last thing on my mind during the delay was the putt and, then once I got back out there, I sort of concentrated on it and made sure I did what I needed to do," McIlroy said. "Just a bonus for it to go in."

Novak and Griffin are both chasing their first PGA Tour title.

Novak is coming off a playoff loss last week to Justin Thomas in the RBC Heritage, his second straight top-three finish.

Isaiah Salinda and Kevin Velo, the PGA Tour rookies who led after each of the first two days, had a 66 to drop into a tie for fourth at 23 under. They set the tournament better-ball record Thursday with a 58.

Danish identical twins Nicolai and Rasmus Holgaard also were 23 under. They shot 64.