Harman on top at Travelers by stroke

TomWatson among challengers at U. S. Senior Open

Brian Harman has always looked up to Bubba Watson, who preceded him as a standout left- hander for the University of Georgia Bulldogs.

On Sunday, Watson will begin the day looking up the leader board at Harmon as the two begin play in the final round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Harman birdied the 18th hole for his second consecutive 5- under 65 and a onestroke lead over Watson and Canadian Graham DeLaet on Saturday.

Looking for his second PGA Tour victory, Harman had a bogey- free round to take a 14- under 196 total into the final round at TPC River Highlands.

DeLaet, playing on wife Ruby’s birthday, had five birdies and grabbed a share of the lead with an eagle on the 15th, putting his drive within 6 feet of the pin.

He had a chance to move to 14 under but left an 18foot birdie putt on the 18th just short.

Seven players were tied for eighth, including former Stanford star Patrick Rodgers.

Rodgers, who won 11 tournaments at Stanford to tie Tiger Woods’ school record, played his first tour event here as an amateur in 2012, then made his professional debut at the Travelers a year ago.

“There’s really not too many venues where I show up and I feel like I know what I’m doing,” he said. “So, it’s really nice to be back here.”

U. S. Senior Open: The crammed leader board at the U. S. Senior Open has some familiar faces heading into the final round and one notable name nobody expected to challenge for another major.

Bernhard Langer and Jeff Maggert shared the lead at 5- under 205 at Del Paso in Sacramento, where conditions cooled off after consecutive days above 100 degrees. But the competition remained hot, with eight players one shot off the lead, including 65year- old Tom Watson and defending champion Colin Montgomerie.

Langer shot a 2- under 68, and Maggert had a 70.

Watson, who was tied with Maggert and Peter Fowler through 36 holes, salvaged a 71 after making a 20- foot par putt on the 18th hole that sent the gallery into a roar. Montgomerie had a 70, and Kenny Perry surged into contention with a 64.

LPGA: Na Yeon Choi felt as if she had nothing to lose starring down her second shot on the par- 5 18th hole at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas. The eight- time LPGA Tour winner certainly played without a sense of fear throughout her second round at the NW Arkansas Championship, matching her career best with an 8- under 63 to surge to the top of the leader board.

Choi reached 13 under overall after sinking a 45foot eagle putt on the 525yard final hole, a shot she set up with a fearless 3wood approach shot to the elevated green. The South Korean will enter Sunday’s final round with a two- shot lead over Mi Jung Hur and Anna Nordqvist and in search of her ninth career LPGA title — her first since opening the year with a victory at the Coates Golf Championship.