FORT WORTH, Texas — Webb Simpson lipped-out a birdie chance at the final hole and had to settle for a two-stroke lead over Paul Casey and Danny Lee after the third round of the Dean & DeLuca Invitational here Saturday.
Simpson’s 15-foot putt was headed for the center of the hole but broke sharply at the end, caught the low side of the cup and spun out.
But that was about the only lament the American had after carding 67 to post a nine-under-par 201 total on another breezy day at Colonial Country Club.
Englishman Casey (68) and South Korean-born New Zealander Lee (69) were the closest pursuers on seven-under after finding the final green less frustrating, both making birdie.
Americans Stewart Cink (66) and Kevin Kisner (70) were three off the pace, while defending champion Jordan Spieth (68) and Masters champion Sergio Garcia (71) were five behind.
Spieth played the final seven-plus holes with a stand-in caddie after his regular looper Michael Greller fell ill in the oppressive heat and humidity. Trainer Damon Goddard carried the bag the rest of the way.
Feng ahead by one shot
Shanshan Feng of China started the third round three strokes out of the lead and ended Saturday’s round on top by one shot at the LPGA Volvik Championship in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Feng, who is No. 7 in the Rolex World Rankings, fired a bogey-free 66 to move to 15-under 201 after 54 holes at Travis Point Country Club.
Right behind Feng in second place is Lizette Salas at 14-under 202 after a 67. Suzann Pettersen of Norway is alone in third, two behind the leader, after a 69.
Feng gained a share of the lead when she birdied the par-5 18th hole after also getting a birdie on the 17th. Salas fell out of the lead when she bogeyed the final hole.
Rookie Park Sun-hyun, the second-round leader, trails Feng by three shots going into the final round.
Grace closes in on Dodt
South African Branden Grace climbed to within a stroke of the lead after the BMW PGA Championship third round Saturday.
Grace carded a two-under 70 to claim second place behind surprise leader Andrew Dodt of Australia (68).
There were huge roars from the sizeable crowds surrounding the 18th green when home favorite Lee Westwood, bidding to win the title for the first time on his 24th appearance in the European Tour’s flagship event, grabbed his third birdie in a row.
The 44-year-old Englishman’s sparkling run helped him complete a 72 and elevated him to joint third along with Italian Francesco Molinari (74), three shots behind Dodt.
World No. 5 Henrik Stenson needs a barrage of final-round birdies to get into contention after he returned a 73 for 212.
Singh leads Langer
For Bernhard Langer, winning the Senior PGA Championship after several close calls would cap off a decade of dominance on the over-50 circuit. Vijay Singh is playing the event for the first time in his fifth year of eligibility and still wants to compete on the PGA Tour.
Singh used his power to move ahead of Langer Saturday at rain-softened Trump National, but Langer used his guile to stay close, setting up a duel for the title between the Hall of Famers.
The 54-year-old Singh made three more birdies on par 5s to shoot a 4-under 67 at President Donald Trump’s course on the shores of the Potomac River. He had a 15-under 201 total, playing the par 5s in 10-under.
Billy Andrade made three birdies on the back nine to shoot 69 and was three shots back. Bob Estes shot 67 and was alone in fourth, five shots behind. — Agencies
