Billy Hurley III leads by two at Greenbrier

Billy Hurley III doesn’t plan to lose much rest sitting on a third-round lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.

The former U.S. Navy officer shot a three-under-par 67 on Saturday to extend his advantage to two strokes over Angel Cabrera entering the final round of the Greenbrier Classic at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.

“I’ve been working for a long time to win on the PGA Tour,” Hurley said. “I figure if I shoot the lowest score tomorrow, I can’t lose.”

Hurley never relinquished the lead he has held since midway through the second round at Old White TPC. He birdied the par-five 12th and par-four 13th before dropping a stroke on the par-three 15th.

He had a 12-under 198 total. No third-round leader has won the Greenbrier Classic, now in its fifth year. Playoffs have decided the tournament twice.

Cabrera shot 64. He’s looking for his first non-major win on the PGA Tour.

Kevin Chappell was third at nine under after a 69. Steve Stricker had a 68 to top the group at eight under.

There will be more than a trophy to raise and a $1.2-million winner’s check available Sunday. The four best finishers not previously eligible for the British Open among the top 12 on the final leaderboard will earn spots in the July 17-20 tournament at Royal Liverpool.

Hurley finished his five-year Navy service in 2009 and would still be a naval officer if golf wasn’t keeping him busy. He returned to the PGA Tour this year after playing on the Web.com Tour in 2013.

He said nerves won’t play a part in how he gets ready for what could be a memorable Sunday.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I just want to put my mind in position so that I can play well. I slept fine last night. The benefit of the Navy if you learn how to sleep anywhere. I think I’ll sleep fine tonight too.”

Cabrera wore an Argentine blue shirt in the third round and is riding his country’s momentum in the World Cup, including Saturday’s 1-0 win over Belgium to advance to the semifinal round.

“I was very happy when I found out they won,” Cabrera said, adding that he was equally as giddy when he started his round with four birdies on the first six holes.

Stadler leads by four in France

In challenging conditions, Kevin Stadler shot a one-over 72 and still managed to extend his lead to four strokes over Victor Riu and Thongchai Jaidee after the third round of the French Open at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

Leading since the first round, Stadler endured wind gusts and brief showers and made two bogeys and a birdie for a nine-under 204 total.

“I didn’t play that great,” Stadler said. “Made a whole lot of pars, a couple of nice up-and-downs for pars. Not nearly as many looks as I had the last couple of days, but you can’t expect to play that well for four days in a row.”

Riu, of France, wasted a solid front nine after the turn with six bogeys to card a 73, sharing second place with Thongchai, the Thai who shot 69. U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer had a 70 to move into fourth, six strokes off the lead.

“The way he plays golf and the way I know him, very laid-back guy, it will be difficult to catch him,” Kaymer said of Stadler.

Stadler could become on Sunday the first American to win this tournament since Barry Jaeckel in 1972. However, he will have to cope with a tight back.

“On 8, and from then on, it was just a little tight,” Stadler said. “But wasn’t too painful, and I could figure out how to get around after that.”