Sports

Casey takes 4-shot lead at Travelers

June 24, 2018
Paul Casey of England gestures to the gallery as he walks on the 18th hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, Saturday. — AFP
Paul Casey of England gestures to the gallery as he walks on the 18th hole during the third round of the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut, Saturday. — AFP

CROMWELL, Connecticut — Paul Casey matched his lowest score on the PGA Tour, an eight-under-par 62 for a four-stroke lead after the third round at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut Saturday.

Casey produced a flawless long game, hitting every green in regulation in a round the highlight of which was an eagle at the par-four 15th at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

The Englishman, in some of the most sparkling form of his career at the age of 40, posted a 16-under 194 total with one round left.

American Russell Henley shot 67 to move into second place on 12 under, as halfway leader Brian Harman (69) slipped back into a tie for third at 11 under with Anirban Lahiri of India (65) and American J.B. Holmes (65).

Casey credited his hot round to a lesson from coach Peter Kostis.

“On Thursday I had the big pulls going. Every long club in the bag was five, 10 yards left it felt like,” Casey told CBS television.

“We worked hard on it yesterday after the round. Posture wasn’t good enough and I was standing too far from the golf ball. He had me on the range feeling like I was going to shank everything yesterday.”

The lesson paid handsome dividends as Casey picked up six birdies to go with his eagle, where he caressed a three-wood that landed in front of the green and bounced up an incline to within 25 feet of the hole.

Casey capped off his day by punching in a wedge to inside three-feet at the par-four 18th to extend his lead and set himself up for a crack at securing his second victory of the year.

James Hahn made a slam dunk hole-in-one with an eight-iron from 154 yards at the par-three 11th.

The American’s ball landed with such ferocity that it took a chunk out of the edge of the hole as it clattered in.

Hahn carded 67 and trailed Casey by 10 strokes.

Lee shares Arkansas lead

Lee Min-jee and Nasa Hataoka fired identical scores for the second straight day to share the lead at the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship Saturday.

Australia’s Lee and Hataoka of Japan each shot 65 Saturday to go with their 64s in Friday’s opening round. Both golfers have just one bogey so far to share the 36-hole lead at 13-under 129.

They are two shots in front of third place Lexi Thompson (64) in the 54-hole event which wraps up Sunday afternoon.

Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Celine Boutier of France are tied for fourth at 10-under.

Ariya, who shot her second straight 66, is in position to possibly take over the No. 1 world ranking with a strong finish If Ariya wins and Park In-bee, the current No. 1, finishes fourth or worse, Ariya will take over the top spot. If Ariya finishes second and Park finishes 19th or worse she would also go to number one. — Agencies


June 24, 2018
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