Padraig Enjoys Moving Day

Getty Images

Padraig Harrington carded eight birdies in a five-under-par third round of 65 to move into the top 10 at the St Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee on Saturday.

The Dubliner also carded three bogeys in his round to move into a tie for eighth spot on six under alongside the American duo of Ryan Palmer and Roberto Castro.

PGA Tour rookie Shawn Stefani rebounded superbly from a quadruple-bogey seven at the 11th to move to 12 under and edge one stroke clear of playing partner Harris English.

Seeking his first victory on the US circuit, American Stefani piled up eight birdies on the way to a four-under-par 66 on a warm day at the TPC Southwind, picking up four shots in his last five holes.

English, who had been two strokes in front of the chasing pack overnight in pursuit of his maiden PGA Tour title, rolled in a 14-footer to birdie the last for a 69 to secure outright second place.

“It’s funny, I actually hit a good shot,” Stefani, 31, told Golf Channel about his tee shot at the par-three 11th which ended up in water. “I just pulled the wrong club with the wrong wind. It happens. But it was a good day and I played good. It actually helped to have Harris along because he’s a great young player and we have a lot of similarities in our lives and stuff. I had a great time with him and I’m looking forward to it tomorrow.”

Another rookie, Patrick Reed, fired the day’s lowest score, a six-birdie 64 lifting him into a tie for third at eight under with fellow Americans Nicholas Thompson (66) and Scott Stallings (67).

Four-times Major champion Phil Mickelson also mounted a charge, a 65 putting him at seven under alongside rookie Eric Meierdierks (66).

“I’ve played better each round and I’m encouraged by that,” Mickelson said after mixing an eagle at the par-five third with six birdies and three bogeys. “I could really get some glimpses of my game getting where I want it.

“Hopefully, I’ll put together a really low round (on Sunday) and catch the leaders.”

Harrington’s group were a stroke better than Englishman Ian Poulter and defending champion Dustin Johnson, who returned matching 68s.

Related articles

• MLB.com-sponsored golfer leads PGA Tour event
• Shawn Stefani shakes off quadruple bogey for St. Jude's lead
• Stefani takes round 3 lead in Memphis
• Stefani pulls ahead of English at St. Jude despite quadruple bogey
• American Stefani moves one ahead in Memphis
• Rookie Shawn Stefani shoots 66 to lead at St. Jude

Smyth Settles for Eighth

Getty Images

Des Smyth signed for a final round 73 at the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship on Sunday at De Vere Mottram Hall and had to settle for a share of eighth place.

Philip Walton finished five places further adrift after a round of 71 recovered some of the ground lost on Saturday to earn a cheque for €5,368 in his first event of the season - his second year on the European Seniors Tour

Paul Wesselingh saved his best for last as he posted the lowest round of the week to set the seal on a four shot victory over Paraguay’s Angel Franco.

His staggering 20 under par total proved insurmountable for the chasing pack as he carded a flawless closing round of 64 to hold off competition from Franco and a charging Ian Woosnam, who applied the pressure early in the final round on his way to posting a 65 and a third place finish.

Starting the final round a shot clear of the chasing pack, Wesselingh got off to the ideal start with five birdies in his first ten holes, and when he followed that up with three gains on the spin from the 14th hole, there was no catching the former PGA Professional.

A closing birdie rounded off a superb week for Wesselingh, who won this event last year in only his third start on the European Senior Tour. 

This impressive display also came on a course where the Englishman won his first professional tournament 19 years ago, at the PGA North Region Championship, and sees Wesselingh ascend to the top of the Senior Tour Order of Merit thanks to a winner’s cheque of €48,686.

He said: “It is unbelievable, I just can’t believe I’ve done it. I couldn’t believe I’d done it last year, and I can’t believe I’ve done it again this year.

“To win it two years on the trot with this quality of field is incredible. I just played the best I’ve ever played today, and my putter went red hot, I just holed everything.

“I’m not really a scoreboard watcher, but I was aware that Woosie was going well and Franco too so I was watching the board there. I was trying to give myself a two or three shot cushion going into 16 and 17, because anything can happen there, and I picked up one on 16 which is a real bonus. I felt that once I’d got to the 18th, I’d got the job done really.

“Last year was special because obviously it was my first one, but this one was even better because I did it in style really, and won by a reasonably good margin. I didn’t have to hang on as I moved away from the field with some good golf, which is always pleasing.”

Franco ended the week as Wesselingh’s nearest challenger, four shots adrift on 16 under par, and while the Paraguayan went bogey-free on Sunday to post a seven under par round of 66, it was not quite enough to catch the Englishman, who streaked clear of the field in the closing stretch.

However, Franco remained pleased with his efforts in his first start of the 2013 campaign.

He said: “It is good for me because the course is a difficult with very tricky greens, but it is a good start to the season for me as the practice I have put in with my putter and my driver has paid off.”

One shot further back in third was Woosnam, who finally found some of his best form during the final round, having spoken throughout the week about how well he was hitting it in practice.

The former World Number One and four time European Senior Tour winner, got his challenge off to the perfect start with an eagle at the par five first hole to halve his four shot deficit to the overnight leader Wesselingh, and followed that with further birdies at the third, seventh and ninth holes to apply a little bit more pressure.

He would post further red figures at the 11th, 14th and 18th holes to shoot his lowest round of the week, an eight under par 65, but had left himself with too much to do on the final day in light of Wesselingh’s fine form.

He said: “The difference today was I tried to keep my body and my swing more centred, and even though I hit one or two dodgy drives, for the most part I managed to keep it in play. There’s still some room for improvement but my game’s definitely getting there, so hopefully I can kick on next week and for the rest of the season.”

Denmark’s Steen Tinning (70) was looking to become the first Dane to win on the European Senior Tour, but would have to settle for a tie for fourth place on 12 under par alongside America’s Mike Cunning, who shot a final round of 71.

Gordon J Brand, who had shared the lead after round one thanks to an opening 67, matched that on Sunday to finish on 11 under par and in a tie for sixth place alongside Spain’s Jose Manuel Carriles (71), and 2011 Champion Andrew Oldcorn carding 67 at ten under par.

Related articles

• Smyth Still in Chesire Chase
• Smyth Maintains Seniors Lead
• Wesselingh plods victory path at PGA Seniors
• Mottram Hall masterclass
• Knockout round for Smyth at Mottram Hall
• Couples trails Frost by one shot at Regions

Smyth Still in Chesire Chase

Getty Images

Des Smyth had looked strong on the front nine at the ISPS HANDA PGA Seniors Championship on Saturday for the most part, and spent much of the day either tied for the lead or out in front on his own.

However, another rollercoaster back side saw the Irishman counter two birdies with twice as many bogeys to finish one shot adrift with 18 holes remaining.

He said: “It was a real game of two halves for me today, I played beautifully on the front nine and was a bit unhappy and unlucky to be only two under par. But then on the back nine I played some scrappy stuff, to be honest, but at least I ended well with a birdie on the last.

“The back nine hasn’t been very kind to me so far this week, but tomorrow would definitely be a very good time to change that, so we’ll just give it our best shot and hope it’s good enough.”

Paul Wesselingh is ideally placed to retain his title after a three under par 70 on day three gave the defending champion an 11 under par aggregate total and a one shot lead over a trio of pursuers.

Wesselingh is clearly comfortable on De Vere Mottram Hall’s testing par 73 layout, having won the PGA North Region Championship there in 1994, and he braved a swirling wind on Saturday to lead by the slenderest of margins.

“The course is very tricky, it is very bouncy and I suppose that suits my style of play as I can be a bit of a plodder,” explained the Englishman.

“It is just a case of not trying to make any stupid mistakes, make a few birdies and hang on over that back nine.

“Overall I’m delighted with how I’m defending the title but I’m not really even thinking about it, I’m just going out and playing. I’m amazed I’m leading now, but I just plod my way around, get into my own little world and just get on with it.”

American Mike Cunning (70), England’s DJ Russell (71) and Ireland’s Des Smyth (73) currently share second place on 11 under par.

Arizona native Cunning will look to end a three year victory drought on Sunday, and add to the two previous titles he has won on the European Senior Tour.

After four birdies in the first 13 holes, Cunning had led on 12 under par but a couple of dropped shots coming in, at the 16th and 17th holes, proved costly as he fell a shot behind Wesselingh.

He said: “Overall I’m very pleased, as the last few holes are kind of tricky and the way the wind’s blowing, the 16th and 17th are pretty hard holes, so overall it’s still a very good day.

“The wind swirls around, although there’s not a lot of it, but what’s there makes a big difference on some of those holes, especially coming in.

“I didn’t know what to expect as this is my first event since December, and I had some health issues [severe neck injury] over the winter so I didn’t do anything for three months. I’m just happy to be playing again.”

Russell, continuing his recovery from a trapped nerve in his neck, joined Smyth and Cunning in a tie for third place on ten under par, whilst Senior Tour debutant José Manuel Carilles of Spain (72), Paraguay’s Angel Franco (70) and Dane Steen Tinning (67) are all one shot further back on nine under par.

Ian Woosnam will start the final round in a tie for eighth place on seven under par after a third round of 71, and the Welshman is determined to finish with a flourish.

He said: “I’m swinging really well on the practice ground, I just can’t seem to let it go on the golf course for some reason, but we’ll see what happens tomorrow. I just need to go flat out.”

Philip Walton slipped to twelfth place after a double bogey on the par four 5th led to a disappointing round of 75, having opened the first two days with rounds of 70.

Related articles

• Rookie leads at St. Jude
• Smyth Maintains Seniors Lead
• Knockout round for Smyth at Mottram Hall
• Mottram Hall masterclass
• Blaauw wins maiden professional title
• Stafani eyes first career title, Phil in contention