AKRON, Ohio, 25 August 2003 — Darren Clarke used a deft short game to seize the lead after three rounds of the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational on Saturday as the Northern Irishman moved into position for his first win of the season.
The 35-year-old, who beat world No. 1 Tiger Woods to win the 2000 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, cobbled together a four-under-par 66 on Firestone’s South Course.
His 201 total, nine under par, on an increasingly hard and fast layout, was one shot better than American Jonathan Kaye.
Second-round co-leader Chris Riley managed a level-par 70 and stood two back at 203, with Woods and Davis Love III a further stroke back. Both Kaye and Riley are playing in the event for the first time.
Four men are at five-under included Brad Faxon, who shot 70, and former US Open champion Retief Goosen, who briefly shared the lead before two late bogeys left him with a 69. In all, there are 13 players within six shots of Clarke.
Kung Edges Past Mallon for LPGA Lead
In Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Taiwan’s Candie Kung fired a six-under-par 66 on Saturday to surge past Meg Mallon and grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the $1.2 million LPGA tournament here.
Kung made six birdies while extending her bogey-free run to 22 holes as she seeks her second win of the season. She broke through for her first career victory in April in Las Vegas.
Mallon started the day with a three-stroke lead after shooting a 66 on Friday in steamy conditions. But she carded a 71 on Saturday, managing just three birdies and two bogeys. Australia’s Karrie Webb capped a five-under 65 with five straight birdies and moved into a tie for third with Sweden’s Carin Koch (67) at nine-under 207.
Barlow Up by Three, Play Suspended Again
In Reno, Nevada, Craig Barlow topped the leaderboard with two holes to play Saturday when third-round play was suspended due to darkness at the Reno-Tahoe Open. Rod Pampling of Australia, Guy Boros, Cameron Beckman and J.P. Hayes were in the clubhouse on nine-under 207.
Pampling had the best round of the group, a five-under 67 that included three birdies and an eagle and stretched his bogey-free streak at the Montreux Golf and Country Club to 26 holes.
