Triplett, Perry break away at Senior Open
PEABODY, Mass. Kirk Triplett watched a TV documentary on the Celtics and Lakers before teeing off in the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday, then he and Kenny Perry tried to turn the tournament into a twoman show Larry Bird and Magic Johnson would be proud of.
Starting the day tied at a record 11 under and playing together in the final group, Triplett and Perry turned a twostroke edge into a fiveshot advantage over their nearest competition. Triplett shot a 4-under 66 to improve to 15 under, and Perry was right with him until a bogey on No. 18 dropped him a stroke back.
“It felt like match play, the two of us have separated ourselves a little bit from the field and he kept putting pressure on,” Perry said. “He’s unreal. He doesn’t make many mistakes. I’m going to have to really play good tomorrow to get ahead of him.”
Denying that he was pandering to the Boston crowds, Triplett said he’s been a fan of Bird’s since the 1979 NCAA championship game. He also played golf with Hall of Famer Kevin McHale this spring and called it one of his most enjoyable rounds ever.
Then, Triplett arrived in Celtics territory ready to go one-on-one with Perry.
The two matched each other birdie for birdie and were tied on the 18th, when Perry wound up in the rough above and to the left of the pin. He chipped it past the hole and down a ridge but was able to leave himself a tap-in for bogey.
“I think what we probably both wanted to accomplish today was to get some cushion on the field,” Triplett said. “Kenny hit a lot of good shots. He and I were just, I think, trying to keep pace with each other more so than the guys behind us.”
Brandt Jobe matched the tournament record with a 62 — the same score that Triplett had on Thursday — shooting 29 on the back nine to move into third.
Fred Couples and Tom Lehman each shot 70 to head into the final round at Salem Country Club tied for fourth, at 7 under.
After two days of low scores — each round has set a low cumulative record — the wind picked up on Saturday afternoon and made the 6,815-yard, Donald Ross-designed course more of a challenge.
That is, for everyone except Perry and Triplett, who were the only two players in the last seven twosomes to come in under par.
POTOMAC, Md. - David Lingmerth lost his way off the tee but scrambled well enough to stay in the lead at the Quicken Loans National.
The 29-year-old Swede shot a 3-over 73 on Saturday after starting the tournament with two consecutive 65s. That was enough to maintain a one-shot lead at tough TPC Potomac.
Lingmerth’s threeday total of 7-under 203 was one better than Daniel Summerhays, who played solidly from tee to green but couldn’t get many putts to fall. He shot 70.
Spencer Levin, who teed off two hours ahead of Lingmerth, was third at 5 under after the best round of the day, a 65.
There was little wind Saturday, and the greens were softened by a thunderstorm that caused a 90-minute delay, but TPC Potomac played as difficult as ever.
GUYANCOURT, France - Swedish golfer Alexander Bjork shot a 1-under 70 to share the lead with Peter Uihlein of the United States at 8 under after a difficult third round of the French Open on Saturday.
Bjork moved into contention after making three birdies on the way back to the clubhouse, after two bogeys on the front nine.
Uihlein was consistent but unspectacular, opening with a bogey and canceling that out with a birdie on the 14th hole for a par 71 to keep his overnight score.
Uihlein has won once on the European Tour, in 2013. Bjork seeks his maiden victory.
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who was level in third place with Bjork overnight, made par to stay one shot behind in a share of third heading to the final round on the Golf National course that will stage the Ryder Cup next year.