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Parnevik Leads By 3 In Texas

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The Associated Press

Published: October 7, 2007

SAN ANTONIO - Jesper Parnevik moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory in 6 1/2 years, shooting a 4-under 66 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Texas Open.

The 42-year-old Swede had an 18-under 192 total on the LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course after opening with rounds of 61 and 65. He won the last of his five PGA Tour titles in the 2001 Honda Classic.

Because of the long time since his last win, Parnevik said he had some doubts about his game even though he entered the round with a four-shot lead.

'It was tough out there, I thought, for me,' he said. 'I was not very relaxed over the shots or the putts. Now, when I haven't played that great for a while, it's a lot tougher because those bad shots seem to stick in your mind somewhere.'

Fellow Swede Mathias Gronberg was 15 under after a 65. Texan Justin Leonard, the 2000 and '01 winner, was 14 under after a 64, and Ryan Armour (64), Daniel Chopra (64), Shigeki Maruyama (65) and Chris Stroud (64) followed at 12 under.

Parnevik had six birdies, with only two of the putts from more than 10 feet.

'Jesper hit a lot of shots close to the pin,' said Gronberg, who played in the same group. 'So, the main thing for me is to go out and play like I did today.'

Parnevik led by five early with a birdie at the first. But a bogey at the second, and Gronberg's birdie putt from the fringe, cut it to three.

Both bogeyed the 10th hole, but Parnevik regained the stroke with a 2-foot putt at the 428-yard 11th, set up by a 345-yard drive downhill.

It was the first in a three-birdie string. At the 12th, Parnevik hit his 138-yard approach to 3 feet and made another birdie. That put him four ahead again.

Leonard made his second birdie in four holes, a 16-footer that was pin high at No. 11. But he missed an opportunity when his 5-foot birdie putt lipped out on 12.

LPGA: Nothing like a perfect chip from 35 yards for a second eagle to provide some momentum heading into the back nine.

Suzann Pettersen made the shot of the day on what turned out to be a dramatic ninth hole for a twosome also featuring world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, finishing with a season-best 8-under 64 for the lead in the Longs Drugs Challenge at Danville, Calif.

Pettersen, the 26-year-old Norwegian who won the Michelob Ultra Open in May for her first LPGA Tour title and took the McDonald's LPGA Championship in June for her first major win, had a 12-under 204 total for a one-stroke lead over Canadian Lorie Kane (67). Ochoa (67) was another stroke behind at 10 under.

Pettersen matched the tournament record, last set by Jeong Jang in the first round in 2006. After an opening 75, Pettersen had a 65 on Friday and added the 64 Saturday for the lowest two-round stretch in the event's 12-year history (129).

CHAMPIONS: At Timonium, Md., Loren Roberts overcame a slow start to shoot a 3-under 67 and take a three-stroke lead over Fred Funk after three rounds of the Senior Players Championship.

After making 14 birdies and only four bogeys over the first 54 holes, Roberts is at 10-under 200.

PGA EUROPEAN: At St. Andrews, Scotland, Nick Dougherty took a three-stroke lead in the Dunhill Links championship after a 6-under 66, his best round at St. Andrews.

The 25-year-old Englishman had a 17-under 199 total after three rounds.

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