Lingmerth struggles but maintains lead
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 three-day 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. LPGA TOUR: When the wind picked up in the afternoon and the sun beat down on Olympia Fields, Chella Choi delivered a smart, steady performance.
The kind that wins major championships.
Choi shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday for a share of the lead with Danielle Kang heading into the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Olympia Fields, Ill. Kang birdied the par-5 18th to join Choi at 10 under, setting up a final pairing of two players looking for their first major title.
Kang had a 68, also birdieing the 18th.
Jiyai Shin rocketed up the leaderboard with a 64, the best round of the day and good enough for third all by herself at 8 under. Defending champion Brooke Henderson was another stroke back after a 69.
Kang and Sei Young Kim were tied for the lead after the second round. While Kim stumbled to a 72, the 24-year-old Kang had five birdies and two bogeys. She saved par with a perfect bunker shot on No. 12 and then birdied the par-4 14th to get to 10 under for the first time. She gave a shot back with just her second bogey of the tournament on 16, but recovered with another nice bunker shot to set up her closing birdie. Kang on the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2010 in 2011, but she has never won an LPGA Tour tournament. “I’ve been working on my game every day to get better,” Kang said. “Like I said previously, all I could do is work on my game and hope that every day, just chip away at your game and it gets better every day and that’s where it’s getting at.” CHAMPIONS TOUR: Kirk Triplett shot a 4-under 66 on Saturday to open a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the U.S. Senior Open in Peabody, Mass.
Triplett improved to 15 under heading into the final round at the Donald Ross-designed Salem Country Club. He watched as Kenny Perry threeputted the 18th hole to fall one stroke back. Brandt Jobe matched the tournament record with a 62, shooting 29 on the back nine to move into third. But he was six strokes behind the leader. Fred Couples and Tom Lehman were fourth at 7 under. They each shot 70. Bernhard Langer, the winner of the first two senior majors of the year, had a 72 to drop nine shots back.
The 55-year-old Triplett has five victories on the 50-and-over tour after winning three times on the PGA Tour. PGA EUROPEAN TOUR: 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 in Guyancourt, France.
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 made only two bogeys so far, the lowest he has ever carded through 54 holes on the European Tour.
He made three at the BMW International Open in 2013 He has won once on the Tour, in 2013. Bjork seeks his maiden victory. Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, who was tied for third place with Bjork overnight, made par to stay one shot behind in a share of third heading to the final round.