Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Lexi Thompson holds onto 3-stroke lead at Kingsmill
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Lexi Thompson remained in position for her first victory since a rules infraction cost her a major title, shooting a 2-under 69 in tricky wind conditions Saturday to take a three-stroke lead over In Gee Chun into the final round of the Kingsmill Championship.
Thompson is playing her third event since losing the ANA Inspiration in a playoff after being penalized four strokes for a rules violation that a TV viewer reported.
“I’m as determined as any other person out here,” Thompson said. “We all want to win. I have a little bit more drive now I would say, but I’m just going to go out there and be confident and see where it goes.”
The long-hitting Delray Beach resident had three birdies and a bogey — on the par-3 17th — to reach 14-under 199 on Kingsmill’s River Course.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko was five strokes back at 9 under after a 70. Trying to hold off So Yeon Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn for the No. 1 spot, Ko is winless since July.
Sei Young Kim (66) and 2015 winner Minjee Lee (67) also were 9 under.
Gerina Piller, second entering her third straight round alongside Thompson, had a 74 to drop into a tie for ninth at 6 under.
The second-ranked Ryu, the ANA winner, was 4 under after a 72. The thirdranked Jutanugarn, defending the first of her five tour victories last year, had a 70 to also reach 4 under.
Hahn takes lead at Byron Nelson
IRVING, Texas — James Hahn shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 on Saturday to take the lead after three rounds at the AT&T Byron Nelson, where Jason Kokrak’s record advantage disappeared.
Hahn settled for a 12-under 198 total after his eagle chance at the 16th and a birdie putt at 17 both stopped just inches short. The two-time PGA Tour winner was a stroke ahead of Billy Horschel, who birdied his last three holes for a 66 to take second place alone.
Jason Day had his own string of birdies, five in a row midway through his round and then a 60-footer at the 17th, during a 63 that was the best of the day and got him to 10 under. The fourth-ranked player in the world was tied for third with Kokrak, who shot a 72 after setting a Nelson 36-hole record with a fivestroke lead.
Top-ranked Dustin Johnson shot a 71 with five bogeys and four birdies to reach 5 under, seven strokes off the lead and tied for 19th. He had started the day in a six-way tie for third and six strokes behind Kokrak.
Funk maintains Tradition lead
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fred Funk shot a 2-under 70 on Saturday to hold onto the third-round lead at the Regions Tradition.
The 60-year-old Funk has a 14-under 202 and maintains a one-stroke edge over Scott Parel in the first of the PGA Tour Champions’ five majors. Defending champion Bernhard Langer, who shot a 66, and Scott McCarron (69) are two shots back.
Funk was even over the final nine holes at Greystone and is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions individual title since 2012. Langer is bidding to match Jack Nicklaus’ record of eight major victories on the 50-and-over circuit.
“I’m used to Bernhard being on the top,” he said. “I’ve got to go out and I’ve got to take care of my business and wherever it ends up, it ends up. I can’t worry about it. If I worry about it, I won’t play well.”
Funk had a 67 and 65 heading into the weekend. He is 2-for-2 in winning after holding the 54-hole lead at PGA Tour Champions majors. He added two strokes for a three-shot win in the 2008 Regions Tradition and turned a one-shot advantage into a six-stroke victory at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open.