Sweden’s Ryder Cup player Robert Karlsson overcame a one-shot penalty to open up a three-shot lead after the third round of the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Saturday.
Karlsson carded a four under par 68 to go 12 under for the tournament, but had thought he had shot a 67 before being informed of a possible rules breach earlier in the round.
Television footage confirmed the Swede had grounded his putter when his ball moved fractionally on the second green, and that meant a one shot penalty, which turned his 67 into a 68.
PHOTO: AFP
However, the giant Swede still leads by three from Italy’s Francesco Molinari, who hit a 65, and France’s Jean-Frangois Lucquin, winner of the European Masters in Switzerland last weekend.
Karlsson birdied the first but ended up with a double bogey six at the second.
However, the overnight leader was soon back into his stride with consecutive birdies at the third and fourth.
A two at the 164 yard par three 11th increased his lead and when he birdied the 13th, 15th and 17th it looked as though Karlsson was going to have a five shot lead ahead of yesterday’s final round.
But a bogey at the last and his penalty have given the chasing pack some hope.
Lucquin birdied the par three fourth but then endured a double bogey six at the fifth.
However the Frenchman fought back with four birdies and only one bogey on the back nine to stay in contention.
Molinari’s highlight was an eagle at the par five 13th.
■BELL MICRO CLASSIC
AFP, MOBILE, Alabama
Angela Stanford fired a five-under 67 on Saturday to seize a four-shot lead in the US$1.4 million Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
Stanford had seven birdies as she took a 12-under total of 204 through three rounds.
A late run saw Stanford build a comfortable cushion between herself and Australian Katherine Hull.
Hull was alone in second at eight-under 208 after a 68. She climbed up the leaderboard with seven birdies and an eagle, but suffered a costly double-bogey at the last.
Overnight leader Cristie Kerr lost ground with a 76 on Magnolia Grove’s The Crossings course.
Kerr posted a six-under 66 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead, but managed just three birdies with five bogeys and a double bogey at the par-four third.
Stanford started the day two shots adrift but coming in, she was flawless, with five birdies including four in a row from the 13th.
Brazilian Angela Park (69) and China’s Feng Shanshan (70) were tied for third at six-under 210.
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