American Olson has lead at final major
Golfer has chance to become 1st U.S. woman to win major this year
Chasing a first major title for herself, and a first for American women this season, Amy Olson fired a bogey-free 65 to take a twoshot lead after the Evian Championship third round on Saturday.
Olson broke clear to post a 14-under 199 total after twice being in a four-way share of the lead at the sun-soaked Evian Resort Golf Club.
An eagle at the par-5 9th first took her clear, and she added three birdies on the back nine to stretch her lead over Sei Young Kim.
“I really enjoyed (the nerves), that means I care, right?” Olson said. “It was fun to start solid with a birdie on the first hole.”
Kim carded 64, flashing the form that set a U.S. LPGA Tour record 31-under winning total at the Thornberry Creek Classic in July.
“The big goal is to win a major tournament. I wish I could,” said Kim, a seven-time winner on tour.
Mo Martin, a former Women’s British Open winner, was two shots back at 10 under.
A further shot back was a group of three players including Georgia Hall (68), who was a homegrown British Open winner last month.
Five Americans are in the top 10, seeking a first major at the fifth and final try this season and a winner’s check of $577,500. The year’s major winners have come from Sweden, Thailand, South Korea, and England. Champions: Scott Mccarron shot a 9-under 63 at Warwick Hills for a share of the Ally Challenge lead with Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert. Mccarron, coming off a successful title defense two weeks ago in Calgary, Alberta, played an early three-hole stretch in 4 under — making an eagle on the par-4 12th. He had six birdies and a bogey on his second nine, birdieing the last three and four of the final five. Lehman shot his second straight 67, and Maggert had a 68 to match Mccarron at 10-under 135.
European PGA: Chris Wood birdied the 18th hole to card his second 65 of the KLM Open and take a one-shot lead into the closing round. Hideto Tanihara of Japan matched the lowest round of the European Tour event with an 8-under 63 to join overnight leader Ashun Wu and Jonathan Thomson in a three-way tie for second at 12 under.
Ryder Cup: Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn says Tiger Woods returning to the United States team after a six-year absence will make golf’s best event even better. Bjorn tells The Associated Press in an interview Saturday, two weeks before the action in France, that Woods “brings so much greatness to the game of golf.” A runner-up finish at the U.S. PGA Championship last month ensured a resurgent Woods won selection from Bjorn’s counterpart Jim Furyk.