Thomas, Steele share lead

Justin Thomas birdied the final two holes to finish with a 5-under-par 67 at the CIMB Classic on Saturday and a share of the lead with American compatriot Brendan Steele at the PGA Tour’s Malaysian event. Second-round leader Thomas had an eventful round of eight birdies and three bogeys at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to reach 20-under 196, level with Steele, who had a bogey-free 66. They were a shot clear of last year’s runner-up Kevin Na, who had the equal-best round of the day with a 64. With only four strokes separating the top nine players, including former No.1 Adam Scott, and the course offering plenty of opportunities to pick up strokes, a close finish looms on Sunday. David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) had an eagle and six birdies for an 8-under 64 and a three-round total of 15-under 202. He is tied for 10th place with Ryan Moore.

Taiwan’s Candie Kung bogeyed the final two holes in the windy Blue Bay LPGA at Hainan Island, China, to drop into a tie for the lead with South Korea’s Sei Young Kim at even par. Kung had a 1-over-par 73, and Kim shot a 74 on another difficult day at wind-battered and sun-baked Jian Lake Blue Bay. Only two of the 78 players broke 70 and there were 11 rounds in the 80s. The players averaged 76.282 to push the three-day mark to 75.733. With more wind and possibly rain today, the tournament could be the first with an over-par winner since Birdie Kim won the 2005 U.S. Women’s Open at 3 over at Cherry Hills in Colorado. Third-ranked Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) was 1 over after a 73.

Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy shot his third consecutive 5-under-par 67 to move to within a stroke of leaders Jaco van Zyl and Victor Dubuisson in the Turkish Airlines Open at Antalya, Turkey. Van Zyl, from South Africa, had a 70, and Dubuisson, from France, a 67 to reach 16-under 200 at The Montgomerie Maxx Royal in the first of four events in the European Tour’s Finals Series. McIlroy dropped his first shots of the tournament

with bogeys on Nos. 3 and 10, but also had five birdies and eagled the 13th. Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat (66) was tied for third with McIlroy. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) had five birdies and a double bogey for a 3-under 69 and a three-round total of 1-over 217.

Duffy Waldorf missed a chance to shoot the second 59 in Champions Tour history Saturday, parring the final two holes for an 11-under-par 60 in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif. Waldorf missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th, coming up short and right. Kevin Sutherland is the only player to shoot 59 on the 50-andover tour. He had a 13-under 59 last year in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. Waldorf, 53, a former UCLA player, had a three-stroke lead over defending champion Fred Couples in the final full-field event of the year. Couples, also the 2010 winner, had a 65.