Day, Bae share lead after 63s at Barclays

Sang-Moon Bae is making the most of his final weeks before he starts mandatory military service in South Korea.

Bae matched shots with PGA champion Jason Day throughout the third round of the Barclays on Saturday until both finished at sevenunder-par 63 and tied for the lead going into the final round at Plainfield Country Club in Edison, N.J.

They were at 11-under 199, one shot ahead of Bubba Watson. Two shots behind going into the final round was Ryan Palmer, playing for the first time since his father died last week in a traffic accident in Texas.

“I can’t put into words what it would mean, for sure, ” Palmer said after a 65.

Still, Bae might have the most at stake.

He had been able to avoid his mandatory two-year military service through his PGA Tour career until it was determined that he spent too much time in South Korea last year. He appealed the decision, and the military courts ruled a month ago that he had to serve.

Bae accepted the decision, though he remains in America to finish out the FedEx Cup.

British Open champion Zach Johnson and Henrik Stenson each had 67 and joined Palmer at nine under.

Elsewhere

weather-delayed Yokohama LPGA Tire Classic at Prattville, Ala. . . . Rod Spittle, a 60year-old Canadian, shot a sixunder 66 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at Endicott, N.Y. Spittle was at 10-under 134 in the Champions Tour event, a shot ahead of Scott McCarron (64) and John Huston (68).