WASHINGTON — Rickie Fowler fired six birdies in a four-under par 68 Saturday to grab a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Fowler who captured his first PGA on the same Quail Hollow course in 2012, had a nine-under par total of 207.
“The course dried out and played much faster, so 68 is a really good round out there,” Fowler said.
Fowler, who won at Quail Hollow in 2012 and will defend his title next week in the Players Championship, took charge with three straight birdies through the 16th hole and his second straight 68.
Fellow American Roberto Castro bogeyed Quail Hollow’s difficult 18th to cap a 71 that left him one adrift on 208.
England’s Justin Rose made two late birdies in a 69 and was two shots behind in a tie for third with James Hahn, who made three straight birdies through No. 16, but made bogey on the penultimate hole in a 68.
A double-bogey at 18 saw overnight leader Andrew Loupe post a 74 that left him on 201, level with Scott Langley who carded a 71.
Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand and Lucas Glover both shot 70 and were three strokes behind in a tie for seventh, and Retief Goosen of South Africa was five shots back in solo ninth after a 71.
Five-time major winner Phil Mickelson fared even worse at 18, carding a quadruple-bogey eight to complete a 76 for 215.
He was part of a big group sharing 19th that also included defending champion Rory McIlroy, who had five birdies but four bogeys and a double-bogey at the ninth en route to a 73.
Ariya finishes strong
In Los Angeles, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn fired a career-best nine-under 63 Saturday to take a three-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Yokohama Tire Classic.
Ariya caught fire on the back nine Saturday, making birdie on eight of nine holes to reach 14-under 202 on the Robert Trent Golf Trail course in Prattville, Alabama.
The Thai had a three-shot lead over Australia’s Minjee Lee and American Ryann O’Toole, who both carded 68 for 205.
Overnight leader Ryu So-yeon of South Korea carded a 71 and was alone in fourth on 206, one shot in front of Americans Stacy Lewis (68) and Morgan Pressel (70).
First round leader Laetitia Beck started her day three strokes back of Ryu, remained in the hunt with a two-under par, 70 that left her six off the lead.
Thompson wins in Japan
Lexi Thompson won the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup Sunday, closing with an even-par 72 for a two-stroke victory over Japan’s Ayaka Watanabe.
The long-hitting American finished at 13-under 275 at Ibaraki Golf Club in the Japan LPGA Tour major championship. She shot a 65 Saturday to take a five-stroke lead into the final round.
Thompson won for the first time in Japan. Third in the world ranking, she won the Honda LPGA Thailand in February for her seventh LPGA Tour victory.
Watanabe closed with a 69. — Agencies
