Merritt maintains lead at RBC Heritage
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Troy Merritt shot a 2-under 69 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the RBC Heritage, while defending champion Matt Kuchar and Masters winner Jordan Spieth stayed within reach.
A day after tying the course record with a 61 to build a four-stroke advantage at Harbour Town, Merritt had four birdies and a double bogey to reach 14-under 199.
Kuchar, Brendon Todd and Kevin Kisner were tied for second.
Todd made the big move with a 63, the day’s lowest round. Kisner shot 67, and Kuchar 68.
Jim Furyk led a group another stroke behind after a 68, with Spieth five shots back, also following a 68. Spieth believes he can shoot even lower Sunday to chase a second straight jacket, this one tartan.
Sei Young Kim shot a 2-under 70 on Friday in wind gusting to 30 mph to take a one-stroke lead in the Lotte Championship in Kapolei, Hawaii.
With the breeze making birdies elusive at Ko Olina, the 22-year-old South Korean player reached 12-under 204 to break out of a firstplace tie with I.K. Kim.
Sei Young Kim will take a lead into the final round for the second straight tournament. Two weeks ago, she had a four-shot advantage in the ANA Inspiration and finished fourth in the major championship.
Sei Young Kim won in the Bahamas in February in her second start as an LPGA Tour member.
I.K. Kim was second after a 71. Third-ranked Inbee Park was another shot back after a 69.
The top five are all from South Korea, with Jenny Shin four shots back after a 70, and Chella Choi at 7 under after 71.
American Paula Creamer (72) and Japan’s Ai Miyazato (71) were 6 under. Defending champion Michelle Wie (73) had five bogeys and four birdies to fall eight shots back in her home event.
Olin Browne shot a tournament-record 8-under 64 to take the second-round lead in the Champions Tour’s Greater Gwinnett Championship and then watched Bernhard Langer match the mark to stay close in Duluth, Ga.
Langer made a 30-foot eagle putt on No. 18 for his 64.
Browne was at12 under, a shot ahead of Langer. Langer won the tournament in 2013 and finished second last year.
Browne’s white shoes were streaked with red mud by the end of his day at soggy TPC Sugarloaf. The rain-delayed first round was completed early Saturday
Rocco Mediate, who lost the lead with a double bogey on No. 11, was third at 9 under after a 67.
First-round leader Tommy Armour III was 6 under after a 71.
Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat shot a 4-under 68 to take the lead after the third round at the inaugural Shenzhen International on Saturday, though he let a five-shot advantage slip to two strokes with a double bogey-bogey on this final two holes Shenzhen, China.
Kiradech had nine birdies in his round to sit at 12-under 204 overall.
Overnight leader Peter Uihlein birdied the par-5 17th hole that Kiradech double-bogeyed to gain three strokes on his playing partner. Uihlein was at 10 under.
Both Kiradech and Uihlein are looking for their second European Tour titles.
Pablo Larrazabal of Spain matched the low round of the day with a 65 to move into third place, one stroke behind Uihlein.