Kelly clings to one-stroke lead in major
Jerry Kelly bogeyed two of the last four holes for another evenpar 70 on Firestone’s challenging South Course, leaving him with a onestroke lead Saturday in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio
“It’s another tough day. It’s another tough golf course,” Kelly said. “I got a little loose on the back side for the second day in a row and got out of position and made some bogeys.”
The only player at par or better after two days in the PGA Champions Tour’s first major of the season, Kelly – at 2 under – had some company in red numbers going into the final round.
Woody Austin and Scott Parel each shot 67, and Colin Montgomerie had a 68 to get to 1 under on the testing course that was the longtime site of a PGA Tour event and later a World Golf Championship tournament.
Kelly played the back nine in 2 under with three birdies and a bogey to reach 4 under. He countered a bogey on the par-4 11th with a birdie on the par-4 13th, then dropped two more strokes with bogeys on the par-3 15th and par-4 17th.
“I could have made two or three more birdies,” Kelly said. “I was burning some edges. You’re going to make mistakes out here, I know that. I just need to make birdies to counteract those mistakes and limit the mistakes. So, even par is not a bad day. But I didn’t like giving them away.”
Miguel Angel Jimenez was fifth at 1 over after a 69.
Ernie Els (68), Kenny Perry (68) and Scott Dunlap (69) were 2 over. Fred Couples followed a second-round 75 with a 68 to get to 3 over.
Bernhard Langer (71) and Madison’s Steve Stricker (73) were 4 over.
PGA Tour: Si Woo Kim had a holeMadison’s in-one on the way to 62 and a twoshot lead over Doc Redman and Rob Oppenheim after three rounds of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Kim got going with his ace on the 161-yard third hole and didn’t let up.
Kim, who’s at 18-under after 54 holes, made history three years ago when at 21 he became the youngest winner of The Players Championship. Now, he’s seeking his first victory since – and playing strongly wherever he tees it up.
Kim has broken 70 in nine of his last 10 rounds, including all four at TPC Harding Park to finish tied for 13th at the PGA Championship. He has continued that stellar play at Sedgefield Country Club, where he won his first PGA Tour event in 2016.
Redman had a 63, while Oppenheim set a career low on tour with a 62 in second at 16-under.
Billy Horschel shot a 65 and was three strokes back at 15-under. Mark Hubbard (64) and Jim Herman were another stroke back at 14-under. Herman shot a 61, a career best and tied for lowest round of the tournament.
LPGA Tour: Azahara Munoz birdied the 18th hole to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the Ladies Scottish Open in North Berwick.
The Spaniard shot a 2-under 69 for a 7-under 206 total, just ahead of American Stacy Lewis (70).