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Donald clings to lead at Byron Nelson tournament

Scott Verplank spots his ball on the 14th green during the third round of play in the Byron Nelson Championship golf tournament in Irving, Texas, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Luke Donald barely held onto the lead at the Byron Nelson Championship on Saturday.

After a bogey at No. 17, Donald made a par-saving putt on the closing hole to finish his 11th straight under-par round in the Nelson, a 3-under 67 that put him at 10-under 200 with a one-stroke lead over Scott Verplank going into the final round.

Donald, finally leading the Nelson after all his subpar rounds in the event, had consecutive bogeys early to fall behind by two strokes. The Englishman recovered with five birdies in a 10-hole stretch that were enough to put him back ahead.

bunched

"This is a tournament where it always seems very bunched," Donald said. "That's a little bit why I'm disappointed I made 4 on 17. Just giving that one back maybe gave a few more people a thought that they might have a good chance [on Sunday]."

Verplank (66) grew up in the Dallas area and first met Byron Nelson as a teenager. Now in his 21st Nelson, the 42-year-old Verplank was due to play in the final group yesterday with a chance to finally win it -- in the first Nelson tournament played without its namesake. Nelson, who in 1968 became the first golfer to have a US PGA Tour event named after him, died in September.

"Byron was so great to me for 25, 26 years that I knew him. He kind of took me under his wing when I was a kid," Verplank said. "He was one of the finest gentlemen I've ever met in my life...Because I'm from here and this tournament has his name on it, it's a pretty big deal to me."

Play was stopped midway through the round for a moment of silence in honor of Nelson that was followed by a flyover by a squadron of fighter jets. It was the first time the US PGA Tour ever had such a stoppage during a tournament.

"It was a very nice touch, a fitting memory for Byron Nelson," Donald said.

He had never finished a round leading the Nelson before this year, but has now led two in a row -- even after his tee shot at the 196-yard 17th hole wound up in the bunker fronting the pin and his approach at the closing hole ended up more than 50 feet from the pin before a 5-foot par putt.

third victory?

If Donald can make it three rounds in a row with the lead, he will have his third US PGA Tour victory.

Michael Allen, the 48-year-old journeyman who got into the Nelson by surviving a playoff in a qualifying event on Monday, was alone in third at 8 under after his bogey-free 64. Ian Poulter (65) was 6 under.

Phil Mickelson (66) and Vijay Singh (69) were in a group at 5 under with Ken Duke (64), Ryuji Imada (67) and Fredrik Jacobson (71).

Donald, No. 11 in the world, has finished 17 of his 21 career rounds at the Nelson over the last six tournaments under par.

There was a quick birdie on Saturday, hitting his approach at the 490-yard third hole within 5 feet, before Donald suddenly got in trouble and was over par for his round.

After missing the green at the 425-yard No. 4, Donald two-putted for bogey. Then at the elongated green on the 181-yard fifth, he three-putted to go to 7 under -- and was two strokes behind Verplank.

Donald got a stroke back with a birdie at the 533-yard seventh hole, then had four birdies in seven holes after making the turn. He hit his approach to 6 feet for birdie at No. 10, then slid a 10-foot birdie attempt past the hole at No. 11. Consecutive birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 got him to 10 under, and he had another at the 554-yard 16th.

Verplank was bogey free until he got to No. 13, the par 3 where he didn't get on the green until his third shot. He missed the fairway at No. 15, then couldn't reach the green with his second shot.

But he had a nice finish with a nifty approach at No. 18 that set up a 4-foot birdie putt.
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