Henley shoots 67, grabs 3-shot lead at Shadow Creek
Four shots behind at the start of the day, Russell Henley ran off three straight birdies to start the back nine Saturday and posted a 5-under 67 to build a three-shot lead going into the final round of the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek in North Las Vegas.
Henley had plenty of help from the other players in his group.
Xander Schauffele, who had a three-shot lead going into the weekend, had a pair of late bogeys and failed to capitalize on the par 5s in his round of 74. Tyrrell Hatton didn’t make a birdie until the final hole in a 73. Of the top 25 players, they were the only two who shot over par.
Henley’s putting has been a great fit for the firm, glass-like greens of Shadow Creek. He leads the field in the most important putting category, and it has carried him to only the second 54-hole lead of his PGA Tour career.
Henley was at 15-under 201. Lanto Griffin, who won his first PGA Tour event a year ago at the Houston Open, found the water off the tee on the par- 5 18th and made bogey and still managed a 66. He was at 12-under 204 along with Talor Gooch (69), Jason Kokrak (68) and Schauffele, still in the mix despite a sloppy Saturday. WEIR LEADS MICKELSON IN SENIORS EVENT >> The other left-handed, 50-year- old former Masters champion was on top after a long Saturday at The Country Club of Virginia. While Phil Mickelson got most of the attention going into the Dominion Energy Charity Classic as he tries to open his senior career with consecutive victories, Mike Weir was a little better on a 36-hole day after rain washed out play Friday. The Canadian shot 6863 to reach 13 under and take a three- stroke lead over Mickelson into the final round.
“I’m super happy with the way I played today,” Weir said.
Mickelson shot 68- 66. He won his PGA Tour C hampions debut at Ozarks National in August.
“Having carts makes playing 36 a lot easier,” Mickelson said. “I certainly enjoyed the day and don’t feel all beat up like we normally would.” WALLACE OPENS UP 3-SHOT LEAD AT SCOTTISH CHAMPIONSHIP >> English golfer Matt Wallace opened up a three-stroke lead after the third round of the Scottish Championship on the European Tour after shooting 6-under 66.
Tennis
RUBLEV, CORIC REACH ST. PETERSBURG FINAL >> Andrey Rublev and Borna Coric overcame Canadian opposition to reach the final of the St. Petersburg
Open in Russia. Thirdseeded Rublev rallied to beat second-seeded Denis Shapovalov 4- 6, 6-3, 6- 4, and Coric also recovered in the semifinals to beat Milos Raonic 1- 6, 6-1, 6- 4. CECCHINATO, DJERE MEET IN SARDEGNA FINAL >> Italian wild card Marco Cecchinato routed Serbian qualifier Danilo Petrovic 6-1, 6- 0 in the Sardegna Open to reach his first final in 20 months. Cecchinato’s opponent in the final will be Laslo Djere, a Serbian who won his semifinal when Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti retired with an arm injury. Djere was leading 2- 6, 6-2, 4-1.
Motorsports
ENDERS, SMITH WIN POSTPONED NHRA RACES >> Erica Enders regained the Pro Stock points lead Saturday, beating Jason Line in the final round of the rain- delayed Mopar Express Lane NHRA Midwest Nationals at the AAA Texas NHRA Fallnationals at Texas Motorplex.
The defending season champion raced to her third victory of the season and 28th overall, finishing in 6.572 seconds at 208.49 mph in her Camaro.
Pro Stock Motorcycle points leader Matt Smith had a 6.775 at 200.50 to beat teammate Scotty Pollacheck in the final round of the Midwest Nationals. Smith has two victories this season and 26 overall. MOFFITT WINS WILD TRUCK RACE >> Brett Moffitt wasn’t about to finish second again — not with a spot in the NASCAR Truck Series finale on the line. So when Zane Smith tried to pass him with three laps to go, Moffitt moved down ever so slightly and sent his teammate into a spin along the backstretch. Then, the 28-year-old from Iowa held off a field full of playoff contenders, winning a two-lap shootout to the checkered flag at Kansas Speedway.
Soccer
EVERTON, LIVERPOOL TIE 2-2 >> Dominic CalvertLewin scored for the fifth straight game to open the Premier League season to salvage a 2-2 draw for Everton against Liverpool, which extended its decadelong unbeaten run in Merseyside derbies.