SAN ANTONIO >> Brian Harman survived 30 mph wind by playing the final 13 holes without a bogey, giving him an even-par 72 and a three-shot lead in a Valero Texas Open so difficult that only six players managed to break par.

Harman had his chance to join them until narrowly missing a 12-foot birdie attempt on the final hole at the TPC San Antonio.

He was more than satisfied to finish with his first 54-hole lead since he won the British Open two years ago at Royal Liverpool. That also was his last victory, and Harman has a great chance to end that drought.

He was at 12-under 204, three shots clear of Andrew Novak (69), with Tom Hoge (68) another shot behind going into the final round. Keith Mitchell had a 73 and was five behind. Mitchell and Novak need to win to get into the Masters next week.

Novak also is looking for his first PGA Tour title, and he has a wall to thank for his chances.

He hit 5-iron well to the right on the par-3 16th hole. It hit the wall below the grandstands and bouncing into the rough and onto the green about 5 feet for a most unlikely birdie.

There were not many rewards on this day, with a wind out of the opposite direction. No one could reach two of the par 5s on the Oaks course, and the average score was nearly two shots over par.

Harman was 2 over for his round when he made a pair of late birdies from the bunker, on the par-5 14th and the reachable par-4 17th.

Spaniard Bernat Escuder wins ANWA

Carla Bernat Escuder wasn’t worried about anyone behind her, only those who were ahead. Thanks to a flop shot she only recently mastered, birdies on all the par 5s and a nervy 4-foot par putt to finish, the Spaniard stood alone at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Bernat Escuder rallied from a two-shot deficit against defending champion Lottie Woad and held off a late charge from teenager Asterisk Talley, closing with a 4-under 68 to add to the Spanish heritage at the home of the Masters.

Woad, who was looking to become the first back-to-back winner, led by two early. But it all came undone on the 10th.

From the fairway, she was aggressive with her approach and tugged the shot left and over the green, into a bush. Woad had to take a penalty drop, chipped on and missed the putt, giving her a double bogey and leaving her three shots behind.

The charge came from Talley, the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Junior Girls runner-up, who began the final round by holing out from the first fairway for eagle.

Coming off a birdie at the 16th to get to within three shots, Talley hit a remarkable recovery from under the pines left of the 17th fairway.

The ball stayed under the limbs and rolled up along the edge of the bunker, using all of the slope to get to about 18 feet behind the hole. Instead of scrambling for par, she holed the putt for birdie to give herself a chance.