Dantorp goes top
Swede shoots a 68 to pull clear of congested leaderboard
GULLANE (Scotland): Sweden’s Jens Dantorp (pic) shot a thirdround 68 in bright and breezy conditions at the Scottish Open to move one shot clear of a group of players on a congested leaderboard.
The world number 322, who has never won a European PGA Tour event, birdied the last three holes to finish on 13-under.
“Every shot is a new shot, and that mantra will be very important for me tomorrow,” Dantorp told reporters.
“It’s been a decent year so far but I haven’t really pulled anything off, so it’s nice to head out as leader.”
Dantorp, 29, will start the final round one stroke ahead of his compatriot Alexander Bjork, American Rickie Fowler, England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick, Australian Scott Hend, New Zealander Ryan Fox and German Marcel Siem.
Fox, son of former All Blacks flyhalf Grant, and Hend shot matching seven-under 63s while world num- ber three Justin Rose of England warmed up for next week’s British Open at Carnoustie with a solid 67 to join a group of players on 10-under.
In Brooke Henderson birdied the 17th hole after a so-so back nine, finishing with a two-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead at the LPGA Marathon Classic.
The late birdie on Saturday moved the 20-year-old Canadian out of a tie for the lead as she seeks her second win this season. Henderson is at 11-under 202 after three rounds at Highland Meadows.
Angela Stanford and Brittany Lincicome are one stroke behind. Stanford vaulted into contention with a six-under 65, which tied for the low round of the day. Lincicome had a four-under 67, including birdies on two of the final three holes.
This is the fifth time in Henderson’s career she has held the 54-hole lead. She went on to win on three of the four prior occasions.
Jacqui Concolino is two strokes back while 11 players are three back, including defending champion I.K. Kim and NCAA champion Jennifer Kupcho.
In Silvis, overnight leader Michael Kim was three strokes clear of the field when play was suspended in the third round of the John Deere Classic due to inclement weather in Illinois.
Kim, celebrating his 25th birthday, was three-under for his round through 13 holes on Saturday when heavy rain fell on TPC Deere Run, bringing a halt to play with the American on 18-under for the tournament.
Compatriot Bronson Burgoon was alone in second place on 15-under after 14 holes of his third round. Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who won the Quicken Loans National at the start of July, is in a group of five players a further shot adrift.
The delay was the second of the day and third of the tournament with tournament officials unclear on whether play would be able to resume later on Saturday. — Agencies