LA QUINTA, Calif. — Last year, Scott Stallings left the Humana Challenge early after a funny conversation that probably made his aching ribs hurt even more.
“I played La Quinta for one round and I played with Carl Pettersson and, after nine holes, he said, ‘Either you’re going to withdraw or I’m going to withdraw. I can’t watch this anymore,’ ” said Stallings, who was forced to withdraw after tearing cartilage around five ribs.
This year, Stallings is in position to run away with his third PGA Tour title after opening a five-stroke lead Saturday. He shot a 9-under-par 63 at PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus course to reach 22-under 194 after three days in the Coachella Valley.
“I stayed aggressive,” Stallings said. “Playing with John [Rollins] was a huge help. He’s a good guy and he was an easy guy to club off of. ... We made a lot of birdies the last couple days, and so we kind of fed off each other.”
Stallings made two eagles, hitting a 6-iron to 8 feet on the par-5 13th hole early in the round and holing a 20-foot downhill putt on the par-5 eighth. He had his third consecutive bogey-free round, putting him in position to become the first tournament winner to play 72 holes without a bogey since Lee Trevino in the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open. The 27-year-old former Tennessee Tech player opened with a 66 on the Arnold Palmer course — the site of the final round today — and shot a 65 Friday at La Quinta.
Rollins had a 64 to move into a tie for second with Stewart Cink, Roberto Castro, Charles Howell III and Charley Hoffman.
David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) is another stroke back at 201 after a 69 on the Palmer course with an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys. Bryce Molder (Conway) followed at 202 after a 68 on the Nicklaus course with an eagle, three birdies and a bogey. Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) also shot a 68 at La Quinta with an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys for a 206.
Cink had a 66 on the Nicklaus course to get into the final threesome with Stallings and Castro.
Missing the cut of 10 under were Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State), who finished at 210 after a 73 with three birdies and four bogeys, and Scott Gardiner (Farmington), who shot a 75 with three birdies and six bogeys for a 212. Both played the Palmer course.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Rose takes control
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Justin Rose extended his lead at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Saturday, shooting a 4-under-par 68 to take a two-shot lead over Jamie Donaldson and Thorbjorn Olesen.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Frost takes 2-stroke lead
KAUPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii — David Frost shot a 65 Saturday to hold a two-stroke lead on John Cook after the second round of the Mitsubishi Electric Championship.
Frost’s bogey-free round left him at 14-under-par 130 at Hualalai Golf Club in the season opener of the Champions Tour. Despite having his first-round lead cut in half while winds gusting to 28 mph pushed scores higher, the South African remained in front with five birdies on the back nine.
Cook, the 2011 Mitsubishi winner, holed out for eagle from 114 yards on No. 18 to finish at 6-under 66. Kirk Triplett was third after a 68. Fred Couples and Tom Kite both shot 69s and were at 205.
Sports, Pages 32 on 01/20/2013