Jason Dufner (R) and Zach Johnson shake hands on the 18th green during the third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday. — AFP

FORT WORTH, Txas – Jason Dufner survived two back-nine bogeys to take a one stroke lead over fellow American Zach Johnson into final round of the Colonial Invitational Saturday.
Johnson narrowly missed sharing the top spot when his 12-foot birdie putt fell inches short at the 18th hole.
Dufner, seeking his third PGA Tour victory in his last five tournaments, used six birdies to offset bogeys at 14 and 16 for a four-under 66 and 195 total.
“If I were to pull the victory it would be pretty great company to be in,” Dufner said of the possibility of joining Ben Hogan as the only two golfers to win the two Dallas area tournaments in the same year.
Johnson, who carded a five-under 65, had other ideas.
He pressured Dufner throughout the hot day, using a birdie at the par-three 16th that Dufner bogeyed, to move within one.
Dufner steadied himself to join Johnson in a birdie-par finish as they pulled away from the field.
“Hopefully both of us can go out there tomorrow and increase that distance from them and make it kind of a two-horse race ... and give the fans and the people watching at home some good golf and some good theater,” said Dufner.
Americans Tom Gillis (203), Bo Van Pelt (204), John Huh (205) and Ryan Palmer (205) rounded out the top six.
Dufner had never won a PGA Tour event until he captured the New Orleans Classic on April 29. He took the next week off to get married before tying for 68th at The Players. Last week, he was back on course, claiming the Byron Nelson Championship at Irving, Texas.

Coetzee makes move
South African George Coetzee was the best of the early starters as the final round of the PGA Championship got underway at Wentworth Sunday.
The 25-year old got to the turn in 32, three-under par, and after 12 holes was five-under for the day and level par for the tournament.
In the process Coetzee leapt 25 places up the leader board, but he was still 11 shots behind the leader and defending champion Luke Donald.
Another South African, the former Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel was also on the move as he was out in 33 and also level par for the week.
None of the early finishers could make significant progress with many having their hopes of contending wrecked by high scores on the third day.
Ben Curtis from the United States was round in 72, nine shots better than his effort Saturday and playing partner James Kingston, who shot a disastrous 85 in the third round, finished his tournament with a 71. England’s Chris Wood had the best round of those in the clubhouse with a four-under par 68 moving him to four-over par.
Donald will reclaim his number one world ranking from Rory McIlroy if he finishes in the top eight of this, the European Tour’s most prestigious event. — Agencies