Summerhays grabs 2-stroke lead at John Deere
SILVIS, Ill. — Calm skies and a near-perfect course gave every golfer at the John Deere Classic the chance to shoot a really low number on Saturday.
Daniel Summerhays went lower than everyone else, seizing firm control heading into Sunday’s final round. Summerhays shot a 9-under 62 for a two-stroke lead following third-round play.
Summerhays, whose previous best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for fourth, enters the final round at 19-under 194 and in position for his first career win.
He notched 10 birdies while matching the lowest third-round score in tournament history.
“I think when I’m playing well the mentality is make as many birdies as you can,” Summerhays said. “I’m really looking forward to (Sunday). I’m playing really well.”
Canadian David Hearn (64) is second at 17 under. Defending champion Zach Johnson held a share of the lead after each of the first two rounds, but he’s now alone in third after shooting a 67.
“I know there’s going to be obstacles and challenges, as there always are. There are always things that stand in your way. But I’m just excited to see what those are and deal with them,” Summerhays said.
Hearn f inished with three birdies in four holes to pull within two shots of Summerhays.
Johnson had been remarkably consistent over his last six rounds at Deere Run, but for the first time in a long time, Johnson found himself battling just to hang close to the leaders.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
U.S. Senior Open at Omaha, Neb.: Kenny Perry and Fred Funk made charges in the U.S. Senior Open, each pulling within two shots of leader Michael Allen with one round to go.
Perry, going for a second straight win in a senior major, shot 6-under-par 64 to match Corey Pavin for the low round at Omaha Country Club. Funk shot 67 after making a long birdie putt on No. 18.
Allen, who had a 63 Friday, ballooned to a 2-over 72. He started the day with a 5-stroke advantage over Rocco Mediate. Allen was at 8-under 202 for the tournament
Scottish Open at Inverness: Henrik Stenson held off a resurgent Phil Mickelson by shooting a 6-under 66 to take a twostroke lead into the final round.
Mickelson was in a group of four players in a tie for second after making six birdies in his last 11 holes for a 66 on Saturday. His performance has the American talking up his improving links game before next week’s British Open.
Branden Grace and firstround leader John Parry were tied with Mickelson after each shooting 66, along with J. B. Hansen (69).
Stenson, at 16 under for the tournament, has emerged from a prolonged slump and is showing the kind of consistent form that took the Swede to No. 4 in the world four years ago.
Manulife Financial LPGA Classic at Waterloo, Ontario: The course was dry yet the greens re- mained soft at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. Players aimed straight at the pins for a third straight day and the scoreboard was loaded with low numbers as a result.
South Korea’s Hee Young Park shot a careerlow 61 to move into sole possession of the lead. Her 20-under 193 total left her one shot up on American Angela Stanford and two strokes ahead of Scotland’s Catriona Matthew.
With 21 players already at 10 under or better and course conditions likely to remain the same, expect a shootout on Sunday.