PEREZ LEADS CIMB CLASSIC BY FOUR
MALAYSIA» Pat Perez turned KUALA LUMPUR, in an 8-under-par 64 at the third round of the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic to open up a four-shot lead over Xander Schauffele.
The American, who led by a single stroke coming into Saturday, turned on the style on the back nine with six birdies, giving him nine for the day against just one bogey. After three rounds, Perez is on 21-under 195.
“These guys are so good and you can make so many birdies out there so fast, and I know that,” said Perez. “So if I can get another six (birdies) tomorrow, I might be tough to catch.”
Schauffele remained within sight of his compatriot after a 5-under 67 — including an eagle on the 10th — while South Korea’s Sung Kanghoon is a further shot away after a 7-under 65.
Defending champion Justin Thomas’ chances appear over after he finished the day tied 24th at 6 under, despite posting his best round with a 69.
The American had a double bogey on the par-5 fifth hole but recovered with a flurry of birdies and an eagle on No. 16.
Clear skies at TPC Kuala Lumpur brought out the best from Whee Kim with a hole-in-one on the 199-yard, par-3 15th. The South Korean won a BMW hybrid vehicle.
“(I) landed perfect and thought ‘Oh made it, it’s going to go in,’ ” Kim said.
Ko leads by 2 after a bogey-free round. KOREA» Jin Young Ko fired a INCHEON, SOUTH bogey-free 6-under 66 to take a two-shot lead after the third round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship.
The South Korean carded six birdies on the Ocean Course, including two in her last three holes, to post a 15-under total of 201. Compatriots Sung Hyun Park and In Gee Chun both shot 68 and are tied for second at 13-under 203.
“My iron shots today were really strong, so I was able to make a lot of birdie chances for myself,” said Ko, a nine-time winner on the local KLPGA Tour.
Wallace maintains two-stroke lead.
ITALY» Matt Wallace held a twostroke
MONZA, lead after the third round of the Italian Open as the Englishman seeks a wireto-wire victory.
Defending champion Francesco Molinari stood two strokes back along with Tyrrell Hatton, last week’s winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Wallace sank five birdies and had only one bogey before pulling off a difficult par save after driving into the trees at the 18th to stay at 17 under.
Price, Montgomery tied at 8 under.
N.C.» Phillip Price, Colin Montgomerie
CARY, and Jerry Kelly shared the second-round lead at 8-under 136 in the PGA Tour Champions’ SAS Championship.
Price and Montgomerie shot 67s at Prestonwood Country Club in the 50-and-over tour’s regular-season finale. Kelly birdied four of his last six holes to shoot 68 and join them atop the leaderboard.