BEIJING, 24 April 2005 — Australia’s Adam Scott surged into a six-stroke lead at the JW Classic yesterday with the majority of players yet to complete the third round.
The world No. 10 was 19 under par with seven holes to play in his third round having tied the tournament record for the first 36 holes after a 66 in the morning.
Scott was at 15-under 129 after the first two rounds to match the record set by Ernie Els in 2003.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson moved into a tie for second with American Gary Rusnak on 13 under after a flurry of six birdies in 12 holes during his third round.
US Open champion Retief Goosen fired a 67 in the morning and was 12-under after 11 holes in his third round alongside fellow South African Richard Sterne and Briton Steven O’Hara.
Britain’s Luke Donald, who tied for third at the US Masters, was one of 28 players to complete his third round, producing a fine 65 to improve to 11-under.
World No. 3 and twice champion Els was at 10-under after 14 holes, one ahead of playing partner Sergio Garcia and Briton Colin Montgomerie. Britain’s six-time major winner Nick Faldo missed the cut by one stroke in the morning as rounds of 75 and 69 left him at level-par 144.
The $2.3 million event is jointly sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian tours.
Coles and Quigley Share Lead at Houston Open
Australia’s Gavin Coles and American Brett Quigley moved into a share of the lead at the Houston Open on Friday, with defending champion Vijay Singh and John Daly lurking one stroke back after the second round.
Despite being one of the smallest players on the PGA Tour, Coles turned in a big effort at the Redstone Golf Club to card a three-under 69 and climb to the top of the leaderboard on 10-under-par 134 alongside Quigley, who recorded a second straight 67.
“You’ve got to take the good with the bad,” said Coles, who birdied three of the last five holes, including a chip-in at the last.
“You’re going to get some breaks,” he added.
“I haven’t hit a good chip all week and then I chip one in on 18. That’s a bit of a turn around.
“We play all different types of courses and you just never know which is your week.
“When it’s your week you’ve got to ride it while you can.”
The 7,508-yard Redstone layout and its wide open fairways hold mouthwatering appeal for the tour’s heavy hitters and Daly took full advantage, mixing seven birdies with a pair of bogeys to reach nine-under 135 through 36 holes.
Joining Singh and Daly at nine-under are Americans Joe Ogilvie and Jeff Maggert, a three-time runner-up in Houston.
Sweden’s Koch Soars to LPGA Lead on Eagle’s Wings
In Morelia, Mexico, Sweden’s Carin Koch opened with an eagle to spark a three-under par 69 Friday that gave her a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the one million-dollar LPGA Morelia Championship.
The inaugural LPGA event in Mexico could bring Koch her first tour title since the 2001 Corning Classic.
Koch began the day two strokes behind American Natalie Gulbis but was level quickly, taking a 58-degree wedge from the fairway of the par-4 first hole and smacking a 97-yard shot that found the bottom of the cup on one bounce.
Koch had three birdies and two bogeys, the last on the 18th hole to leave her on seven-under par 137 after 36 holes, trimming her margin over second-place American Wendy Ward.
Gulbis, 22, stumbled to a 75 despite an eagle at the par-4 fourth. Her day included a pair of bogeys and a triple-bogey at the par-3 14th and ended with her sharing third with Sweden’s Maria Hjorth on 141.
