AKRON, Ohio, 22 August 2005 — Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry remained tied at the top of the leaderboard after returning early yesterday to complete their weather-hit third rounds of the WGC NEC Invitational.
Level when play was halted on Saturday due to rain and lightning, Americans Perry and Woods parred their remaining holes to stay deadlocked at seven-under 203 heading into the final round beginning at 1300 GMT at the Firestone Country Club.
An unhappy Perry was pulled off the 18th green when he was about to putt out on Saturday. He returned and two-putted from 10 feet for his par to finish his round at six-under 64.
Woods had more to ponder overnight after carving his tee shot on the mammoth 667-yard 16th into the trees. The world No. 1 muscled the ball out of the rough into the fairway and, with a solid approach, was able to salvage par.
Woods also parred the par four 17th and 18th to complete his round at three-under 67. Irishman Paul McGinley also parred his three remaining holes for a 67 to remain one behind the leaders at six-under.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia returned with two holes to play and birdied the 18th to join Australia’s Stuart Appleby at five-under.
Kang Takes Three-Stroke Lead in Safeway Classic
In Portland, Oregon , South Korea’s Kang Soo-yun moved into position for her first victory in three full seasons on the LPGA Tour, shooting a 4-under 68 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Safeway Classic.
Kang, a co-leader compatriot with Yim Sung-ah after a first-round 64, has a 12-under 132 total. Gloria Park and British Open winner Jeong Jang were 9 under.
Kang was in nearly the same place at the other Safeway — the Safeway International back in March. Kang was a shot back of Lorena Ochoa going into the final round. Kang tied for third with Juli Inkster at Superstition Mountain Country Club, for her best result of the season. Annika Sorenstam won it in a playoff with Ochoa.
Wearing bright yellow pants and butterfly clips in her hair, Kang saved par on No. 18 with a well-placed chip out of a sand trap. She eagled the par-4 15th hole, but bogeyed No. 17. Because of scheduling conflicts, Sorenstam wasn’t among those playing the 5,783-meter (6,327-yard) course. She won the 2002 and 2003 tournaments.
Park also had a second-round 68 despite tendinitis and tennis elbow. With a 25-foot putt, Jang birdied her final hole, the par-4 ninth, to also finish with a 68. “That was the first long putt today,” Jang said. “Good finish going into tomorrow.” Aree Song, four strokes back with defending champion Hee-Won Han, gained briefly on Kang, but was done in by a double bogey on the par-4 14th hole, and a bogey on No. 17. Yim was in a group five shots back.
Veteran Rose Jones, who says she’ll retire at the end of the year, was at 6 under in a group that included Natalie Gulbis (71). After a 65 on Friday, Jones had a 1-over 73 on Saturday.
