San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)

An shoots 66 to maintain one-shot lead in Wyndham

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GREENSBORO, N.C. — The rounds are starting to repeat for Byeong Hun An: No bogeys, a bunch of birdies and more time atop the Wyndham Championsh­ip leader board.

An shot a 4-under-par 66 on Saturday for a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the PGA Tour’s final event before the playoffs.

An, who was at 17-under 193, has held or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds and has yet to play a hole worse than par. The 27-year-old South Korean with three internatio­nal victories has put himself in position to claim his first win on tour.

“It feels similar to yesterday, to be fair,” An said. “I had some nice shots here and there but scrambled well today. Another bogeyfree (round). I’m quite happy with it — a 66 out here, and I have a lead.”

Former Wyndham winner Webb Simpson and Brice Garnett were tied for second, with Simpson shooting a 65 and Garnett a 66. Ryan Armour was 15 under after a 65.

“One shot is basically nothing,” An said. “It’s not that big of a lead. It’s just one shot.”

Overall, it was yet another low-scoring day at Sedgefield Country Club. For a while midway through An’s round, six players were tied for the lead at 13 under.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if somebody shot 8, 9, 10 under, a guy who’s within striking distance,” Simpson said. “I’ve got to keep the pedal down, and if I don’t shoot a low one, I’m not going to win.”

An started to get some separation from the crowd with three birdies in the fourhole span from Nos. 5-8, moving to 16 under.

Then came his best shot of the day — a 50-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th. He closed with four consecutiv­e pars.

Simpson — a native North Carolinian who named his daughter Wyndham after his first career victory came here in 2011 — strung together three birdies around a bogey midway through his back nine to move to 16 under.

If nothing else, he is in good position to claim his fifth top-10 finish in six years at this tournament.

Garnett made the turn at 15 under after back-to-back birdies, rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th to pull even with Simpson and saved par on the 18th after rolling his third shot from a greenside bunker to within 3 feet of the flagstick.

Armour climbed into contention with six birdies in a 10-hole stretch midway through his round that put him two strokes back.

Shibuno takes lead into final round

Hinako Shibuno’s dream debut continued as she fired a 5-under 67 to seize a twoshot lead going into the final round at the Women’s British Open at Milton Keynes, England.

Shibuno, 20, a rookie on the Japan LPGA Tour who is making her LPGA Tour and major championsh­ip debut, had six birdies in the final nine holes of the third round to get to 14-under 202.

Second-round leader Ashleigh Buhai (72) started with a three-shot lead at Woburn Golf Club and stretched it to five as Shibuno had bogeys on Nos. 5 and 9. But with Sung Hyun Park also closing in, Buhai stumbled with three bogeys in five holes. The 30-year-old South African, who never has won on the LPGA Tour, dropped to second at 12 under.

Second-ranked Park was a shot further back in third after a bogey-free 68.

Americans Morgan Pressel and Lizette Salas, and top-ranked Jin Young Ko, were tied for fourth on 10 under. Ko (68) is seeking her third major title of the year after winning last week’s Evian Championsh­ip in France. Pressel birdied eight holes on her way to a 66, while Salas (70) had two bogeys in her opening nine.

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 ?? Chris Seward / Associated Press ?? Wyndham Championsh­ip leader Byeong Hun has held or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds and has yet to play a hole worse than par.
Chris Seward / Associated Press Wyndham Championsh­ip leader Byeong Hun has held or shared the lead after each of the first three rounds and has yet to play a hole worse than par.

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