Dufner loses his lead after bogeys

dublin, ohio» Daniel Summerhays managed to walk a relatively straight and narrow path at the Memorial, and it took him to an unlikely position going into the final round Sunday.

He started with a fiveshot deficit.

He ended with a threeshot lead.

All because the guy next to him Saturday, Jason Dufner, lost his way.

Summerhays dropped only one shot and rarely was out of position on his way to a 4-under-par 68. More than his solid round was the collapse by Dufner. One day after he set the 36hole scoring record, Dufner shot a 5-over 77 and was four shots behind.

He made four straight bogeys on the front nine and lost his five-shot lead in five holes. He hit two balls in the water on the back nine. He missed the putts he had been making for two days.

“Today was pathetic on all accounts, so have to play better tomorrow,” he said.

At least he was still in the game, along with plenty of company.

Summerhays was at 13under 203. Matt Kuchar, who won the Memorial four years ago, ran off three consecutive birdies on the back nine and shot a 5-under 67. That put him in the final group with Summerhays as Kuchar tries to end three years and 82 starts without a victory on the PGA Tour.

“I’m excited to have another chance here,” Kuchar said. “It looked like after 36 holes that none of us were going to have a chance at it.”

Bubba Watson overcame a heckler on the 18th hole with one last birdie for a 68. He was four shots behind along with Justin Thomas (69) and Dufner. Rickie Fowler (72) salvaged an upand-down day and was five shots behind.

Women have new No. 1 galloway township, n.j» Ariya Jutanugarn took the No. 1 spot in the world ranking without hitting a shot, and Paula Creamer and In-kyung Kim topped the Shoprite LPGA Classic leaderboard.

Taking the week off, Jutanugarn replaced Lydia Ko atop the ranking when So Yeon Ryu missed the cut. Ko, also skipping the event, was guaranteed to lose the top spot to Jutanugarn or Ryu, and Jutanugarn got the position when Ryu failed to finish solo third or better.

Creamer and Kim each shot a 4-under 67 in windy conditions to reach 9under, while two-time defending champion Anna Nordqvist followed her opening 64 with a 71 to drop two strokes behind along with Moriya Jutanugarn — Ariya’s older sister — and Jeong Eun Lee.

Footnote. Phil Mickelson will skip the U.S. Open to attend his oldest daughter’s high school graduation.