Curtis stays atop in Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Ben Curtis is still ahead at the Texas Open, leaving him just one round from his first PGA Tour victory since 2006.
Curtis finally made his first stumbles at the Texas Open — once holding up a group playing six holes back when hacking the ball into the neighboring fairway was his only escape from under a tree — but his 1-over-par 73 was enough to stay atop the leaderboard at 9-under Saturday.
Matt Every was grateful to end a long day in the same position where he started — three strokes behind the former British Open champion. Every shot a 73 after waking early to finish his suspended second round, but it’s his course-record 63 Thursday that still has him in contention.
Mayakoba winner John Huh (67), Seung-yui Noh (68) and Charlie Wi (71) were five strokes back at 4-under.
Aside from Huh, no one within five strokes of Curtis has won on the PGA. Despite six years passing since his last victory, Curtis said he knows how to handle the final round.
“In the past when I’ve played in these circumstances, that’s what I did: I just focused on my game and if at the end of 18 holes it’s good enough to win, great,” Curtis said. “If not, I have to shake the guy’s hand that won and move forward.”
The Texas Open is only the fourth PGA Tour stop this year for Curtis, whose tournament invitations are no longer a sure thing after his status plummeted near the bottom rungs of the tour.
Curtis preserved his lead despite two double bogeys, including a wayward drive on the par-5 8th that left the 2003 British Open champion hitting twice from the adjacent fairway. Curtis said he and his caddie decided there was no other choice after his tee shot veered left and landed under a mesquite tree, surrounded by cactus and with no clear path back toward the hole.
“We were joking that we were on the second hole for 50 minutes today,” Curtis said.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Two teams share lead
SAVANNAH, Ga. — David Frost and Michael Allen birdied nine of the first 13 holes and combined for a 9-underpar 63 Saturday for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Purtzer and Brad Bryant in the Legends of Golf.
The teams were at 19-under 125 in the better ball event. Bryant and Allen had 65 at The Club at Savannah Harbor.
The leaders in the 54-hole Champions Tour event were one shot ahead of four teams: Gil Morgan and Tom Kite (61); Bobby Clampett and Andy North (62); Jay Haas and Fred Couples (63); and Jeff Sluman and Brad Faxon (64).
EUROPEAN/ASIAN TOUR
Grace holds 3-shot lead
TIANJIN, China — Branden Grace of South Africa shot an 8-under-par 64 and has a three-shot lead after three rounds of the China Open on Saturday.
The 23-year-old South African moved to 18-under 198, three shots ahead of defending champion Nicolas Colsaerts.
Grace started the third round one shot off the lead, but gained four shots in three holes, sinking a 15-foot eagle putt on the sixth green.
On a day of light winds and low scoring, Fabrizio Zanotti also shot a 64 to move to 14-under, four strokes back. Alexander Noren had a 63 to join four other players at 13under.
The other overnight leader, Gary Boyd, started his third round by dropping two shots in three holes. He had a 71 and was six shots behind Grace.
ASIAN TOUR
Westwood retains lead
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Defending champion Lee Westwood birdied two of the first four holes to open a fourstroke lead at 13-under in the Indonesian Masters before lightning and rain halted the third round.
Zaw Moe was second at 9under, also through four holes at Royale Jakarta Golf Club when play in the Asian Tour event was suspended.
LPGA
Miyazato wins in Hawaii
KAPOLEI, Hawaii — Japan’s Ai Miyazato won the LPGA LOTTE Championship on Saturday for her eighth career LPGA Tour title, birdieing three of the last six holes for a 2-under-par 70 and a fourstroke victory.
Miyazato finished at 12-under 276 at windy Ko Olina. She opened with rounds of 71, 65 and 70 to take a three-stroke lead in the final round.
Miyazato won after finishing second behind top-ranked Yani Tseng this year in Thailand and Phoenix.
Karen Stupples (Arkansas State) moved from 20th place to 10th after a 3-under 69. She finished at 4-under 284.