SOUTHPORT, England - Bernhard Langer seized a three-shot lead after the third round of the Senior British Open on Saturday, tackling Royal Birkdale with superb links play for a 4-under 66.
Langer shared the overnight lead with American Mark Wiebe but birdied three of his first seven holes to jump in front on his own. David Frost of South Africa shot his third straight 68 to sit alone in second place, while Wiebe only managed a 70 to drop into third, four shots back.
Langer’s only bogey came on the 14th, but he finished with two birdies on 15 and 17 to stay in control.
“That was as good as I can play,” said the German veteran, who is bidding for his second Senior British Open title having won at Carnoustie in 2010. “My ball-striking was almost perfect and I played really well, apart from the mistake at the 14th.”
His lone bogey came when he hit his tee shot to the back of the green, sent his approach putt long and left and missed the return.
He got it back immediately with a birdie at the long 15th, added another at the long 17th and just missed his birdie chance from 12 feet at the last.
Frost made three birdies in a row from the seventh but then made three bogeys on the 10th, 14th and the 18th, with two other birdies in between.
Three players are in joint fourth place, six shots back - home favorite Sandy Lyle (69), Australian Peter Fowler (70) and first-round leader Gene Sauers of the U.S (70).
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland also had a 69 but is tied for 13th at 2 over. Miguel Angel Martin of Spain had the day’s best round of 65 but is also 2 over.
Defending champion Fred Couples had a 68, his best round of the week, but he’s out of contention at 4 over.
Ireland’s Mark McNulty shared fourth place overnight but quickly fell back when he dropped a stroke at each of the first four holes and another two at No. 7 and 8. He finished with a 76.
WEB.COM TOUR Pettitt grabs Boise lead
BOISE, Idaho - Phillip Pettitt Jr. fired an eight-under 63 on Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Boise Open.
Russell Knox, who had a 59 on Friday, carded a 68 on Saturday and is one stroke behind Pettitt heading into today’s final round at the Hillcrest Country Club.
Michael Connell had Saturday’s low round of 61 and is two strokes behind Pettitt. EUROPEAN TOUR Hoey fires a 65
MOSCOW - Michael Hoey shot a 7-under 65 Saturday to lead the Russian Open by five strokes going into the last round.
The Northern Irishman, who is chasing his fifth European Tour title, made an eagle on the par-5 eighth hole and had six birdies for an overall 14-under 202.
Overnight leader Rikard Karlberg (72) of Sweden and Matthew Nixon (68) of England are tied for second with 207.
U.S. GIRLS JUNIOR Then downs Abe
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Gabriella Then won the U.S. Girls Junior on Saturday, spoiling Lakareber Abe’s bid to become the first black female individual champion in U.S. Golf Association history.
Then, the 17-year-old Upland, Calif., player who will be a freshman at Southern California, beat Abe 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final at Sycamore Hills.
The 17-year-old Abe, from Angleton, Texas, missed a chance to join Tiger Woods, Bill Wright and Alton Duhon as the only black individual winners in USGA play.
Then had a five-hole lead through 22 holes, but Abe rallied to tie it with four holes to play. Then finished off the match with a birdie on the 35th hole.
“I finally did it, a USGA championship,” said Then, competing in her 11th USGA championship. “To be able to have my game where it is right now and be able to make it this far is great.”
Abe will be a senior in high school and plans to attend Alabama in 2014.
“I just kept telling myself to keep fighting,” said Abe, who will attend the University of Alabama in the fall of 2014. “Gabby could hit a good shot at any time, so I just told myself to keep on playing, try to keep making birdies and see what happens.”
Both players earned spots in the U.S. Women’s Amateur next month in South Carolina.
U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR
Scheffler bests Riley
TRUCKEE, Calif. - Scottie Scheffler won the U.S. Junior Amateur on Saturday, beating Davis Riley 3 and 2 in the 36-hole final at Martis Camp Club.
The 17-year-old Scheffler, from Dallas, won the last four holes.
“I played pretty well down the stretch,” Scheffler said. “In the morning round, I gave away a lot of shots and I struggled with the putting a little bit early, then I started to figure it out.”
Scheffler, making his fourth and final appearance in the event, won the Texas Class AAAA state championship for the second year in a row this season and led Highland Park High School to the team title.
The 16-year-old Riley is from Hattiesburg, Miss.
Sports, Pages 33 on 07/28/2013