Closing eagle gives Simpson the lead
Webb Simpson rolled in an eagle putt from 70 feet off the 18th green for an 8under 63 to take a one-shot lead at the halfway point of the Dell Technologies Championship in Norton, Mass.
A gorgeous Saturday in New England allowed for low scoring at the TPC Boston. Tyrrell Hatton had eight birdies with his store-bought putter for a 63 and was one shot behind, along with Justin Rose (67).
Tiger Woods also got into the act. He shot a 66 to at least stay in the picture, though he was seven behind.
Simpson did most of his damage on the front nine and was playing a clean round when he opted to use his putter from left of the green on the par-5 closing hole. He hit it with the right pace on the right line and wound up with the lead at 11-under 131.
Dustin Johnson, the world’s No. 1 player, missed several birdie chances and shot 69. He was six behind.
LPGA Tour: Georgia Hall pulled away from Minjee Lee late in the third round to take a two-stroke lead in the Cambia Portland (Ore.) Classic.
The Women’s British Open winner four weeks ago for her first LPGA Tour title, Hall shot a 3-under 69. She birdied the par-3 16th and par-4 17th and made a 6-foot par save on the par-4 18th at treelined Columbia Edgewater.
The 22-year-old Englishwoman had an 18-uner 198 total. She opened with a 66 and shot 63 on Friday.
Lee had a 68. The Australian lost a share of the lead with a bogey on 17.
Marina Alex was third at 12 under, shooting her second 71.
Champions Tour: Joe Durant eagled the par-5 18th for a 7-under 63 and a one-stroke lead over Miguel Angel Jimenez in the Shaw Charity Classic in Calgary, Alberta.
Durant birdied the first four holes on the back nine and bogeyed the par-4 15th before pulling ahead with the closing eagle. The four-time PGA Tour champion won the Chubb Classic in Florida in February for his third senior title.
Durant had an 11-under 129 total. Jimenez birdied the final two holes for a 66.
Madison’s Jerry Kelly had a 70 and was eight shots off the pace.