Posted on: Sunday, June 27, 2004
Saiki holds LPGA lead for first time
Advertiser News Services
For the first time in 13 years, Kim Saiki has the lead going into the final round of a golf tournament. And she isn't nervous.
Associated Press While Jones "is a phenomenal player," Saiki said, "I think it's going to be fun. I'm excited."
Saiki, a 38-year-old Californian who's been a runner-up four times since joining the tour in 1992, was at 13-under 203 after her third sub-70 round.
"I think of myself as a successful player," she said. But to win "would be incredible. It's what I'm out here for."
Jones, looking for her third victory in seven years at the tree-lined Locust Hill course, was tied for the lead until the last hole. Her approach shot landed in a green-side bunker on No. 18 and she picked up her first bogey to finish with a 67.
"Being one shot back takes about 10 seconds to fix," Jones said. "Either I make a birdie or someone makes a mistake."
Candie Kung, a three-time tour winner who was tied with Saiki after the second round, shot a 73 and fell to 8-under 208.
Annika Sorenstam managed only a 71 and was tied for fourth at 7-under with Becky Morgan of Wales, Mi Hyun Kim of South Korea and France's Patricia Meunier-Lebouc, who shot a 65, the day's best round.
PGA Tour Scott opens six-shot edge in Booz Allen
The stiff breezes returned yesterday to the TPC at Avenel in Potomac, Md., slowing Adam Scott's record pace. Still, Scott gutted out a 67 to take a six-shot lead into the final round of the Booz Allen Classic.
Playing more than his share of holes from sand, fringe, rough or first cut, Scott mixed seven birdies with three bogeys. His total of 18-under 195 tied the 54-hole course record set by Hal Sutton in 1991.
Scott also tied the lowest 54-hole total on the PGA Tour this year. Phil Mickelson shot 195 at the Bob Hope Classic, and David Toms did the same at the St. Jude Classic.
"It was playing tough at the end, and I just managed to hang on," Scott said. "And it seemed like a few of the other guys stumbled over the line."
Olin Browne (71) bogeyed two of his last three holes, but was second with a 201. Charles Howell III (72) and Arron Oberholser (68) were at 202.
Champions Tour Purtzer scrambles to lead Bank of America
Tom Purtzer's short game made up for some shaky putting and put him in control for his second Champions Tour win of the season.
Purtzer followed an opening-round 65 with a 68 yesterday to move to 11-under 133 and a two-stroke lead over Walter Hall and John Jacobs in the Bank of America Championship at the Nashawtuc Country Club in Concord, Mass.
Purtzer missed birdie putts from less than 10 feet on Nos. 16 and 17, and then found himself in the rough after his second shot on the par-5 18th. But he saved himself with a wedge shot to 3 feet and made the putt.
"If I would have missed that putt on 18 I would have been depressed," Purtzer said. "But making birdie on 18 the way I did makes me feel good about my chances tomorrow."
"If you're one shot ahead of the whole field ... you've got to be pretty confident because you're playing pretty good golf," said Saiki, who shot a 4-under 68 yesterday to open a one-stroke lead over Rosie Jones after the third round of the LPGA Rochester International at Pittsbord, N.Y.
Kim Saiki, a 13-year LPGA veteran seeking her first victory, has a one-stroke lead heading into the final round at Pittsbord, N.Y.
