EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France -- Juli Inkster had a 3-under 69
Saturday for a two-shot lead after the third round of the Evian
Masters.
The 47-year-old Inkster, vying to become the oldest player to
win an LPGA Tour event, had five birdies and two bogeys to finish
at 6-under 210 after a day only seven players broke par due to
swirling winds, tricky flag positions and difficult greens.
Michelle Wie struggled with the worst round of the day, shooting
a 12-over 84 to drop to 69th place. The 17-year-old Wie had four
double bogeys, five bogeys and one birdie one day after shooting a
71.
Jang Jeong of South Korea was second after a 72, followed by
Sophie Gustafson of Sweden (72), Shin Ji-yai of South Korea (70)
and Diana D'Alessio of the United States (76) in a tie for third at
213. Two-time winner Annika Sorenstam (74), Natalie Gulbis (73) and
Chung Il-mi (70) were another shot back.
Defending champion Karrie Webb (73) and Laura Davies (74) were
among four players five strokes back. Lorena Ochoa (75) is seven
shots behind Inkster.<
^PGA Tour=
MARKHAM, Ontario -- Vijay Singh shot a 3-under 68 for a
12-under 201 total and a one-stroke lead after the third round of
the Canadian Open.
Steve Allan and John Mallinger, the second-round leaders, were
second after a pair of 70s in windy and hot conditions at Angus
Glen's North Course. First-round leader Hunter Mahan (67) was 10
under, and Jim Furyk, the winner last year in Hamilton, had a 69 to
join Pat Perez (66) at 9 under.
Allan took a share of the lead to the par-4 18th, but closed
with a bogey after his second shot bounced over the green. The
33-year-old Australian is seeking his first PGA Tour victory after
winning the 1998 German Open and 2002 Australian Open.
Mike Weir shot a 67 in the second group of the day to get to 5
under. The 2003 Masters champion opened with rounds of 71 and 70 to
make the cut by a stroke. Stephen Ames also was 5 under after a 69.
The outspoken Canadian again criticized the course setup, saying
the greens were too soft for a national championship.
^Champions Tour=
GULLANE, Scotland -- Tom Watson showed flashes of his
vintage links mastery with a 1-under 70 at Muirfield to put himself
within one shot of leader Stewart Ginn after three rounds of the
Senior British Open.
A five-time British Open winner at Carnoustie, Turnberry, Royal
Troon and Royal Birkdale and the famous Muirfield links, Watson is
a contender to win the title for the third time. He also won in
2003 and '05.
Ginn shot a 69 and stands at 3-under 210. Ginn, an Australian,
bogeyed the first two holes but then didn't drop a shot in tricky
wind. Ginn, whose accurate approaches gave him birdie chances on
most holes between the third and the 17th, is the only player to
post a sub-70 round in two days.
Former British Open champion Mark O'Meara is three strokes off
the lead after a 70. Nick Faldo, who is making his senior tour
debut, slipped back for a share of 11th at 4 over after a 75.
Denis Durnian became the second player this week to win crates
of wine for acing a hole. The Englishman shot 84, but aced the
par-3, 231-yard No. 4 and won a bottle of wine for each yard.<
^European Tour=
ALVESLOHE, Germany -- Andres Romero shot a 9-under-par 63 to
take the third-round lead at the Deutsche Bank Players'
Championship a week after his surprise third-place finish in the
British Open.
The 26-year-old Argentine, who squandered a late lead at the
Open, was at 17-under 199 after three rounds and moved two strokes
ahead of Zane Scotland after a windless day at the Gut Kaden
course. Lee Slattery was third, another stroke back.
Alexander Noren, a 25-year-old Swede, was in fourth place at
203. European Ryder Cup player Paul Casey (68), defending champion
Robert Karlsson (66) and American Brett Wetterich (67) were at 206.