Sorenstam cards 65
Annika Sorenstam took a three-shot lead at the Evian (France) Masters women’s golf tournament Friday with an impressive 7-under-par 65 during a storm-filled third round.
In a hallmark display of controlled play, the world’s No. 1 player had seven birdies to take the lead from overnight leader Karen Stupples.
“What can I say? I hit a lot of good irons and was solid all day,” said Sorenstam, who had five birdie putts from inside 4 feet. “Even when I made a mistake, I was able to make par, and even a tap-in birdie at the 18th.”
Heavy rain fell while the last group played the last two holes. Sorenstam drove into the left rough at the par-5 18th, got her 9-iron grabbed by the wet grass and only advanced the ball 74 yards. With 170 yards to the pin, Sorenstam took a 7-iron to 2 inches from the hole and tapped in her seventh birdie.
Sorenstam sits at 16-under. Stupples slipped to second place after a 69. Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa was third after carding a 67, and Australia’s Wendy Doolan was fourth after a 69.
Franco takes control with personal best
Carlos Franco tied his best round on the PGA Tour with a 7-under 63 to take the 36-hole lead at the U.S. Bank Championship at Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee.
Franco stands at 9-under 131, one shot ahead of Rich Beem. Scott Hoch (65), Bo Van Pelt (68) and Patrick Sheehan (68) were two shots back at 133.
“When I came here in 1999, 100 percent no practice,” said Franco, who won the event formerly known as the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1999.
Franco’s last win came at the 2000 COMPAQ Classic of New Orleans, and his fond memories of Milwaukee began to fade with finishes of 70th, 25th, 68th and 32nd in the years since winning the GMO.
Beem carded a second consecutive 66.
Quartet share lead at Sr. British Open
Don Pooley birdied three of the first five holes in a round of par 72 and shared the lead with Mark McNulty, Peter Oakley and Carl Mason halfway through the Senior British Open at Portrush, Northern Ireland.
Tom Kite is among three players one stroke behind. Defending champ Tom Watson, his neck and shoulder ailing, is eight shots back.
If Pooley wins the title at Royal Portrush on Sunday, two-thirds of his titles will be majors.
Kim ends Harman’s quest to tie Tiger
Sihwan Kim eliminated defending champion Brian Harman from the U.S. Boys Junior Amateur Championships in San Francisco, earning a spot in the final against David Chung.
Kim, a Korean-born golfer from Fullerton, Calif., beat Harman 1-up in the quarterfinals at The Olympic Club. Harman failed in his attempt to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win back-to-back championships in the event.
Granada, Park reach girls amateur final
At Fort Worth, Texas, medalist Julieta Granada beat top-ranked junior Paula Creamer 1-up and advanced to the final of the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur against Jane Park.
Park, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., beat Hsiao-Ching Lu of Taipei, 4 and 2, to reach today’s 18-hole final.