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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, May 30, 2010

Davis, Molder tied in Colonial



Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Brian Davis

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Brian Davis is seemingly done penalizing himself. And now he gets another chance to challenge for his first PGA Tour victory.

After a second consecutive bogey-free 65 yesterday, Davis shares the lead with Bryce Molder at 16-under 194 going into the final round of the Colonial.

When Davis got into a playoff last month at Hilton Head with Jim Furyk, Davis called a two-stroke penalty against himself on the extra hole that ensured a victory for the fifth-ranked player in the world. Davis then finished 57th the following week at New Orleans and had missed three consecutive cuts before Colonial.

"What happened during the playoff threw me off balance a little bit. I lost my focus. ... Missing three cuts in a row, I wasn't exactly happy coming in," Davis said. "I've had to adjust my thinking a little bit. Not everybody can play well every week. You have to take the rough with the smooth some times."

The 35-year-old Englishman and Molder, the second-round leader who finished his 67 yesterday with eight consecutive pars, are hoping for a little plaid to signify finally winning on the PGA Tour. The Colonial champion gets a plaid jacket along with a check of more than $1 million.

Molder has four top-10s this season, but the four-time All-American from Georgia Tech has only one professional victory since leaving college in 2001 — on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.

It was another hot but ideal scoring day at Hogan's Alley, where there again were only light breezes. The forecast today calls for nearly identical conditions.

"I don't know if Fort Worth has seen four calmer days in a row," said Molder, who expects the winning score to be at least 20 under. That would break Kenny Perry's tournament-record mark of 19 under, which he set when winning in 2003 and 2005.

There are 17 players at 11 under or better going into the final round this year.

"I have no illusions about (Sunday)," Davis said.

Zach Johnson (64) was a stroke behind the leaders. Ben Crane (64) joined first-round co-leaders Jeff Overton (66) and Jason Bohn (68) in a tie for fourth at 14 under.

ELSEWHERE

Senior PGA Championship: Jay Don Blake and former major winner Tom Lehman are tied for the lead at 6-under 210 entering the final round of the Senior PGA Championship at Parker, Colo.

Blake shot a 2-under 70 in the third round at the Colorado Golf Club, while Lehman fired a 71 in swirling winds that made scoring difficult. Fred Couples struggled to a 3-over 75, but is still only two strokes off the pace along with Mark O'Meara (67) and Mike Goodes (70) at 212.

eGolf Tour Grand Harbor Open: Scott Weatherly of Alabama sank a four-foot par putt on the final hole yesterday to capture the eGolf Tour's Grand Harbor Open at Ninety Six, S.C.

Weatherly, the third-round co-leader with Jesse Mueller, shot a 3-under 68 for a 20-under 265 total at The Patriot Golf Club to finish ahead of Mueller, who shot a 69 for 266. Mueller, playing his first event on the e-Golf Tour, is the reigning Hawai'i State Open champion.

Hawai'i's Tadd Fujikawa, a Moanalua High alum, shot a 1-under 70 to finish tied for 38th at 6-under 279. Fujikawa's $1,587 payday put his 26th on the Tour's money list with $16,492.

European PGA Madrid Masters: Rhys Davies of Wales shot a 5-under 67 to tie Luke Donald (68) of England at 16-under 200 and share a two-shot lead going into the final round of the Madrid Masters at Madrid. Italy's Francesco Molinari had five birdies in his first seven holes for 65 that left him two shots back at 202.

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