Noh remains bogey-free, keeps lead over Bradley

AVONDALE, La. - If Sueng-Yul Noh can hold on to the lead in the Zurich Classic, he’ll do it front of fans who can appreciate how much bigger Noh’s mission is than simply winning his first PGA Tour event.

Wearing yellow and black ribbons on his hat to honor victims of the April 16 South Korean ferry accident, Noh used a string of birdies late in his round Saturday to surge two strokes ahead of Keegan Bradley atop the leaderboard.

It is Noh’s first career lead through three rounds on the tour, and comes in a city where sports - particularly the success of the NFL’s Saints - became an uplifting force after Hurricane Katrina.

Noh finds himself representing - and captivating - a nation mourning the more than 300 dead or missing - many of them students - from the sinking of a ferry in the waters off his home country.

“Hopefully, I’ll make all the Korean people happy,” Noh said. “It was very sad news for the Korean ship, so hopefully another bogey-free round tomorrow, and hopefully good news for the Koreans.”

Noh is the first player to complete 54 holes at the TPC Louisiana without a bogey. He shot a 7-under 65 to reach 18-under 198. No player has completed all four rounds on the course at better than 20 under, the score Billy Horschel posted last year.

Noh will try to continue the trend when he tees off in the same group as Bradley, who is no stranger to winning. His three career tour victories include a major in the 2011 PGA Championship.

Bradley began the day tied for seventh at 9 under. He pulled into a tie with Noh for first on No. 15 with his seventh birdie of the day.

Then, Noh, who was tied for third at 11 under after two rounds, made birdie putts of 13 feet on 14 and 10 feet on 15 before hitting a 112-yard approach shot to a foot for another birdie on 16, bringing him to 18 under.

Ben Martin, who had a three-shot lead after two rounds, shot a 73 to drop into a tie for fourth with Jeff Overton and Andrew Svoboda at 14 under. Overton shot 67, and Svoboda 70.

Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) fell into a tie for 64th after an even-par 72 on Saturday. His round included an eagle, two birdies and four bogeys. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot a 73 on Saturday and did not qualify for today’s final round. Neither did Scott Gardiner (Farmington) who had a 73.

WEB.COM Putnam cruising

MIDLAND, Texas - Andrew Putnam holds a commanding seven-shot lead after three rounds of the WNB Golf Classic at the Midland Country Club.

The Tacoma, Wash., native fired an 8-under bogey-free 64 on Saturday and is at 20-under 196 for the tournament.

CHINA OPEN

Levy leads by three

SHENZHEN, China - France’s Alexander Levy followed his career-best 62 with a 2-under 70 in pelting rain and gusting wind to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the China Open.

Sports, Pages 34 on 04/27/2014

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