San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Thomas seizes control at Muirfield Village
Justin Thomas kept another clean card at Muirfield Village and had a 6under 66 to turn a threeshot deficit into a twoshot lead Saturday in the Workday Charity Open in Dublin, Ohio.
Thomas ran off a string of birdies to stay within range of Collin Morikawa. When Morikawa, a Cal alum, began to fade with three bogeys in a fourhole stretch around the turn, Thomas converted on the par5s and played wisely on the short par4 14th for another birdie to hold off Viktor Hovland. Thomas was at 16under 200. The final group is a glimpse of golf ’s next generation.
Thomas is the proven star, already a major champion and former world No. 1 at age 27 as he goes after his third victory this season and the 13th victory of his career.
Hovland (66), the former U.S. Amateur champion from Norway, and Morikawa (72) had just left college at this time last year.
Sam Burns, a 23yearold from LSU, had a 70 and joined Kevin Streelman (71) five shots back. Ian Poulter, back at Muirfield Village for the first time since 2009, had a 69 and was six shots behind, along with Rory Sabbatini, who had a 69.
Lake Tahoe celebrities: Former tennis player Mardy Fish birdied the final five holes to take a threepoint lead over former Buffalo defensive tackle Kyle Williams in the American Century Championship in Stateline, Nev.
Warriors guard Stephen Curry was 11th. The celebrity tournament is being played without fans at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. The $600,000 purse and additional money are being donated to organizations supporting COVID19 relief efforts, the Equal Justice Initiative and Lake Tahoe regional nonprofits.
Fish had a 37point round under the modified Stableford scoring system. He opened with a bogey, then made 10 birdies in a 9under 63 to push his twoday points total to 55.
The nearly 300pound Williams is trying to become the first lineman to win the event. He had a 27point day, making an eagle, five birdies and six bogeys in a 71.
Former pitcher John Smoltz was third at 37 points. Twotime defending champion Tony Romo was tied for fourth at 36 with Dell Curry and Derek Lowe. Stephen Curry, Dell’s son, was at 30 points.
Charles Barkley was 70th in the 71player field with minus50 points. Former running back Eddie George was three points behind Barkley.
European tour: Nicolai von Dellingshausen and Marc Warren each shot 2under 70 to share the lead at 11 under after a raindrenched third round of the Austrian Open.