Valero Texas Open 2016: Saturday Leaderboard Scores and Highlights

Ricky Barnes has never won a tournament since debuting on the PGA Tour in 2000, but he moved a step closer toward filling up his mantle with some hardware Saturday afternoon at the Valero Texas Open.

After shooting four under on Thursday and posting a solid two-under score Friday, Barnes shot up the leaderboard on moving day behind a five-under showing that has him in the driver’s seat entering Sunday’s action. 

Brendan Steele, who led at 10 under following Friday’s round, slid down the leaderboard ever so slightly into sole possession of second place in a crowded top five that features Luke Donald, Charley Hoffman and Patrick Reed. 

Considering he’s racked up just 14 top-10 finishes over the past 15 years and change—including just one this year, finishing T-9 at the RBC Heritage—it was easy to overlook Barnes as a legitimate contender entering Saturday’s third round. 

However, the 35-year-old was in a groove from the get-go, as he used a birdie on the par-four first to set the tone for a prosperous day. 

Barnes’ front nine was comprised of three birdies and a bogey on No. 9, but he didn’t let that slip-up fuel a collapse on the back nine. Rather, Barnes rebounded in composed fashion as he carded three birdies in a four-hole span on Nos. 11-14. 

Barnes’ lengthy conversion at No. 12 proved to be a turning point for his round, as the PGA Tour on Twitter documented: 

Ricky rolls into the lead. #QuickHits https://t.co/iO55ZtnrnU

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 23, 2016 …

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