AVONDALE, La. >> Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin shot an 11-under 61 in better-ball play Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Zurich Classic, the PGA Tour’s only team event.

Each chasing their first PGA Tour title, Novak and Griffin took a 27-under 189 total into the alternate-shot finale Sunday at TPC of Louisiana.

“That’s what we both practice for and play for on the PGA Tour,” Griffin said about winning. “We want to compete against the best players and want to ultimately test ourselves and try to get it done.”

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

“Three shots can be gone pretty quick,” Novak saod. “It’s nice to have it, but we’re going to have to still play well.”

Masters champion Rory McIlroy and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, the defending champions, were five strokes back 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.”

Jake Knapp and Frankie Capan III had a 60 to join the Japanese duo of Ryo Hisatsune and Takumi Kanaya at 24 under. Hisatsune and Kanaya shot 61.

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.

Ryu, Saigo share the 3rd-round lead in the Chevron Championship

Haeran Ryu capped a front-nine run in the Chevron Championship with a chip-in birdie on the ninth hole, then held on in tricky wind conditions Saturday for a share of the third-round lead with Mao Saigo.

On a gusty, sunny day at The Club at Carlton Woods in the first women’s major tournament of the year, Ryu parred the final nine holes for a 4-under 68. Saigo followed with 69 to match Ryu at 9-under 207.

Ryu opened with a 65 on Thursday for share of the lead with Yan Liu, then shot a 74 to fall two strokes back. On Saturday, after a bogey on the third hole, she birdied No. 4 and ran off four straight on Nos. 6-9. The 24-year-old South Korean player has two LPGA Tour victories.

Saigo is winless on the LPGA Tour. The 23-year-old Japanese player was the tour’s rookie of the year last season. She parred the last five holes after chipping in for birdie on the par-5 13th to get to 9 under.

Lindy Duncan was a stroke back after a 70. Fellow American Sarah Schmelzel had a 71 to join Liu (72) at 7 under.

Liu, the Chinese player who took a one-shot edge into the weekend, dropped out of a three-way tie for the lead with a double bogey on the par-3 17th.

Playing into the wind on the 144-yard hole, she hit short into a bunker, then left her second in an awkward position in thick rough above the bunker. She chipped 20 feet past and two-putted.

Lexi Thompson topped the group at 6 under after a 70. The 30-year-old Florida player retired from full-time play at the end of last season. She won the 2014 event — then the Kraft Nabisco Championship — at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, California.

Top-ranked Nelly Korda was tied for 31st at even par in her title defense. She had consecutive double bogeys on her second nine in a 71. Winless this season, she won last year for the last of her record-tying five straight victories.