Irwin surges to Senior PGA lead
Hale Irwin reeled off four straight birdies, surging to a one-shot lead after two rounds at the flood-delayed Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky.
Irwin shot a 69 and was at 6-under 136, one stroke ahead of John Harris and Wayne Levi. Gil Morgan and Jay Haas were at 4 under and Dave Barr and Tom Watson were three off the lead when the third round began late in the afternoon.
Irwin was one of 72 golfers who finished their first rounds Thursday, then sat out Friday because of a flood delay triggered by more than an inch of overnight rain.
Bright sunshine and warm temperatures bathed the course Saturday.
Irwin started his second round on No. 10 and bogeyed the par-3 11th after dumping his tee shot in a bunker.
He also bogeyed 13 and 16 before a birdie at the par-5 18th.
Irwin started his birdie streak at the 199-yard third hole, nearly acing it with a 4-iron. He added 10-foot birdie putts at Nos. 4 and 5, then finished the run with a 14-footer at the par-4 sixth.
“I look back at my round and there were a lot of good shots and a lot of ‘whoops!’ shots,” said Irwin, who won three straight Senior PGAs between 1996-98.
Cabrera takes lead at Volvo PGA
Angel Cabrera of Argentina shot a 4-under-par 68 for a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose of England and three others after three rounds of the Volvo PGA Championship.
Cabrera was at 12-under 204. Rose, the second-round leader, shot a 72 and was at 205 with Sweden’s Joakim Haeggman (70), South Africa’s Darren Fichardt (68) and Scotland’s Scott Drummond (68).
Darren Clarke is at 206 after a 71, with Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and Thomas Bjorn at 207. Vijay Singh was at 210 following a 71 on Saturday.
Toms pads his lead to seven strokes
David Toms’ struggles appear to be a thing of the past.
Toms, who started the third round with a one-stroke lead over Vaughn Taylor, extended his advantage to seven strokes with a 6-under-par 65, giving the defending champion control of the St. Jude Classic at Memphis, Tenn.
It was his 11th straight round in the 60s on this course, despite a windy afternoon with gusts to 18 mph.
“When you’re not playing very good golf, it’s not much fun,” Toms said. “I’m having fun this week.”
Toms is trying to become the first repeat champion of the event, now sponsored by FedEx, since Lee Trevino won consecutive titles in 1971 and 1972 at Colonial Golf Course.
Taylor shot a 71 and stands at 202.
Brian Gay was third after a 66, with a 203 total, and was followed by Hirofumi Miyase (67).
Bob Estes, in danger of missing the cut before seven straight birdies Friday, shot a 67 and was tied for fifth with Rich Beem (68) and Tim Herron (69) at 205.
Estill maintains lead over Sorenstam
Playing in the final twosome with Annika Sorenstam, Michelle Estill matched the Swedish star stroke for stroke and calmly rolled in a 4-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole to gain a one-shot lead over Sorenstam after three rounds at the Corning (N.Y.) Classic.
“Wow!” It’s just exciting to be here,” said Estill, who finished at 15-under 201 and will begin the final day of a tournament in first place for the first time since she joined the LPGA Tour in 1991.
“I guess I should say that’s the greatest thing, but to be honest, I’m just happy to be here.”
Sorenstam was three strokes ahead of Vicki Goetze-Ackerman. Shi Hyun Ahn, whose 66 was the lowest round on a cool, windy day, was alone in fourth at 10-under 206, one shot ahead of Natalie Gulbis and Denise Killeen.