WGC-CA CHAMPIONSHIP AT DORAL, MIAMI

Harrington in hunt, one off pace

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
Padraig Harrington is right in the thick of things with a round to go at the WGC-CA Championship over the Blue Monster course at the Doral Resort in Miami, Florida.
Ireland's three-time major winner, pictured right, whose last Tour title was the US PGA 19 months ago, moved into a tie for the lead before three-putting the last for his only bogey of the day.
A five under par 67 leaves Harrington 11 under par, one behind South Africans Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel in the race for a first prize of over £925,000.
Els, one in front of Australian Robert Allenby at halfway, had a chance to establish a firm grip on the event, but missed from four feet at the 13th and three feet on the 16th.
He returned a 70, while 25-year-old Schwartzel - twice a winner in his home country already this year - matched Harrington's round.
Allenby is in fourth place two back, while German Martin Kaymer (66) and England's Paul Casey (68) are not out of the running at eight under and seven under respectively.
Casey was given extra motivation afterwards when told about television commentator Johnny Miller calling him "the biggest under-achiever in golf."
Second and fourth in his last two events - and three times a winner last season before tearing a rib muscle - Casey could go second in the world with victory.
"I feel I'm coming into the prime of my career," he said. "I've gone through ups and downs and I'm just coming off an injury."
Kaymer, Europe's best putter last season, showed American golf fans what he was capable of, needing only 22 putts in his best-of-the-day effort. Already a winner in Abu Dhabi this season, he is currently eighth in the world, but relatively unknown in the States.
THIRD-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Blue Monster, Doral Resort, Miami, Florida
Par 216 (3x72)
Players from United States unless stated otherwise
204 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 67 70 67, Ernie Els (Rsa) 68 66 70
205 Padraig Harrington (Irl) 70 68 67
206 Robert Allenby (Aus) 68 67 71
207 Bill Haas 71 66 70
208 Martin Kaymer (Ger) 70 72 66
209 Vijay Singh (Fij) 68 71 70, Soren Hansen (Den) 69 69 71, Paul Casey (Eng) 69 72 68, Matt Kuchar 71 71 67
210 John Senden (Aus) 69 70 71, Camilo Villegas (Col) 72 68 70, Alvaro Quiros (Spa) 72 69 69
211 Hunter Mahan 72 70 69, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (Spa) 72 68 71
212 Phil Mickelson 71 69 72, Francesco Molinari (Ita) 69 71 72, J.B. Holmes 69 70 73, Graeme McDowell (NIrl) 74 68 70, Liang Wen Chong (Chn) 72 69 71
213 Steve Stricker 73 69 71, Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) 71 68 74, Tim Clark (Rsa) 70 69 74
214 Peter Hanson (Swe) 74 66 74, Adam Scott (Aus) 74 69 71, Mike Weir (Can) 73 66 75, Alistair Presnell (Aus) 72 70 72, Luke Donald (Eng) 70 75 69, Henrik Stenson (Swe) 71 72 71
215 Jerry Kelly 70 72 73, Ross Fisher (Eng) 73 72 70, Lucas Glover 72 72 71, Angel Cabrera (Arg) 74 71 70, Heath Slocum 74 71 70, Kenny Perry 73 74 68, Anthony Kim 71 73 71, Jim Furyk 70 76 69
216 Nick Watney 73 72 71, Ben Crane 74 73 69, Sean O'Hair 71 71 74, David Toms 72 72 72, Lee Westwood (Eng) 74 68 74
217 Dustin Johnson 69 72 76, Jason Dufner 73 69 75, Zach Johnson 76 70 71, Brian Gay 74 69 74, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 74 72 71, Scott Verplank 76 72 69, Ross McGowan (Eng) 76 71 70
218 Kevin Na 78 70 70, Geoff Ogilvy (Aus) 72 71 75, Simon Dyson (Eng) 72 73 73, Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) 73 72 73, Edoardo Molinari (Ita) 72 74 72
219 Ryan Palmer 79 68 72
220 Anders Hansen (Den) 76 70 74, Retief Goosen (Rsa) 76 71 73, Y.E. Yang (South Korea) 73 72 75
221 Robert Karlsson (Swe) 78 70 73, Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spa) 73 75 73, Stewart Cink 75 74 72
222 Rory McIlroy (NIrl) 76 73 73, Marc Leishman (Aus) 78 73 71, Ian Poulter (Eng) 72 78 72
223 Steve Marino 75 71 77
225 Soren Kjeldsen (Den) 74 78 73
226 Michael Sim (Aus) 75 74 77
229 Oliver Wilson (Eng) 78 74 77

CHANG THAILAND SENIOR MASTERS

Local hero Boonchu leads by three after three rounds

By SCOTT CROCKET
European Tour Chief Press Officer
Home hero Boonchu Ruangkit kept on course for back-to-back victories on the European Senior Tour when he fashioned a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Chang Thailand Senior Masters presented by ISPS.
England’s Peter Mitchell was the last man to notch successive Senior Tour victories back in October 2008 when he won in consecutive weeks in Scotland and Italy but now Ruangkit is poised to follow him into the record books after another stirring showing in front of his adoring Thai public.
The 53 year old followed his stunning opening 64 on Friday with a second round 66 at the Royal Gems Golf Club in Nakhonpathom for a 14 under par total of 130, three shots clear of his fellow countryman Jamnian Chitprasong who kept the Thai flag flying at the head of affairs with a 67 for 133.
England’s David J Russell and Frankie Minoza of the Philippines share third on nine under par 135 in the third European Senior Tour event of the 2010 season but, as with last week when he captured The Aberdeen Brunei Senior Masters, the tournament so far has been all about Boonchu.
“I am very happy with my form right now although I must admit I’m a little tired,” he said. “But if I get a good night’s rest I am sure I’ll be up for the challenge tomorrow.
“To win two weeks in a row would be a fantastic achievement for me and one I’ll be going all out to accomplish although I know it won’t be easy as there are a lot of good players behind me, especially Jamnian who played really well today and who I know will be difficult to beat.”
Certainly if Ruangkit produces similar form to his first two days, he will be tricky to topple from pole position. Four birdies in a flawless opening half to his second round saw him to the turn in 32 and while his momentum was halted slightly with a bogey six at the tenth, he recovered in style with further birdies at the 12th, 13th and 18th.
Second placed Chitprasong continued his fine week’s showing with a flawless second round 67 to add to his opening 66, the highlight of the round for the 51 year old coming at the 523yd 10th where he notched an eagle 3.
Leading European challenger, England’s David J Russell finished in style with an eagle three at the 507 yard 18th hole for a 68 to see him share third place with Frankie Minoza whose flawless 65 was the best round of the second day’s play.
“I was hitting some good shots but I didn’t really feel I was getting the reward for them which is why it was nice to finish with the eagle at the end there,” said Russell.
“To have a chance tomorrow I’m going to have to go out and shoot low because Boonchu and Jamnian ahead of me are obviously playing very well. But I’m just going to go out and try and play the best I can and if I can shoot in the mid to low 60s then it might worry them a little.”
Further down the leaderboard, current European Senior Tour Order of Merit leader, England’s Kevin Spurgeon, is in a share of 28th place on one under par 143 following his second round 73 while last season’s Number One, Scotland’s Sam Torrance, is one shot further back on level par 144 after his second round 71.

SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Royal Gems Golf Club, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
Par 144 (2x72)
130 B Ruangkit (Tha) 64 66,
133 J Chitprasong (Tha) 66 67,
135 D Russell (Eng) 67 68, F Minoza (Phi) 70 65,
136 M Saengsui (Tha) 65 71,
137 J Rhodes (Eng) 68 69, A Sowa (Arg) 67 70, K Tomori (Jpn) 66 71,
138 P Harrison (Eng) 67 71, S Ebihara (Jpn) 68 70, T Johnstone (Zim) 69 69,
139 J Bruner (US) 68 71,
140 G Brand (Eng) 70 70, R Chapman (Eng) 71 69, H Carbonetti (Arg) 69 71,
141 S Lyle (Sco) 70 71, C Rocca (Ita) 71 70, F Mann (Sco) 70 71, C Williams (South Africa) 72 69, N Job (Eng) 71 70,
142 B Cameron (Eng) 70 72, B Boyd (USA) 71 71, M Williams (Zim) 68 74, J Quiros (Esp) 68 74, D Merriman (Aus) 70 72, G Gunn (Can) 70 72, L Carbonetti (Arg) 69 73,
143 G Ryall (Eng) 70 73, K Spurgeon (Eng) 70 73, G Ralph (Eng) 72 71, S Bennett (Eng) 69 74, B Lincoln (South Africa) 68 75, D O'Sullivan (Irl) 69 74, J Rivero (Esp) 70 73, M Harwood (Aus) 69 74, N Meesom (Tha) 67 76, M Ramayah (Mas) 71 72
144 S Bunpimuck (Tha) 71 73, P Teravainen (US) 74 70, M Farry (Fra) 68 76, S Saengsui (Tha) 71 73, S Torrance (Sco) 73 71, J Heggarty (N Ireland) 71 73
145 G Banister (Aus) 71 74, L Stephen (Aus) 72 73, P Oakley (US) 75 70, M Clayton (Aus) 75 70
146 J Hawkes (South Africa) 76 70, M Gray (Sco) 78 68, P Mitchell (Eng) 71 75, T Gale (Aus) 73 73, I Woosnam (Wal) 72 74, G Cali (Ita) 70 76, S Owen (Nzl) 72 74, L Yong-Kun (South Korea) 69 77,
147 N Ratcliffe (Aus) 75 72, S Taylor (US) 74 73, B Longmuir (Sco) 73 74, M Cunning (US) 69 78
148 A Tapie (US) 75 73, P Dahlberg (Swe) 71 77, B Hardwick (Can) 72 76, M Miller (Sco) 75 73,
149 J Chillas (Sco) 72 77, M Poxon (Eng) 72 77, P Allan (Eng) 74 75, T Chen (Tpe) 76 73,
150 K Nam (Kor) 73 77, J Hall (Eng) 74 76
151 B Smit (South Africa) 74 77, D Johnson (US) 76 75, I Mosey (Eng) 76 75, D Cambridge (Jam) 74 77, 152 T Burgoyne (Sco) 77 75, A Johnsson (Swe) 77 75
154 M Piñero (Esp) 75 79, I Palmer (South Africa) 75 79
158 A Garrido (Esp) 75 83

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More stops than starts on US PGA Tour event on Puerto Rico

FROM THE PGATOUR.COM WEBSITE
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- Skip Kendall topped the Puerto Rico Open leaderboard at 5 under after nine holes when first-round play was suspended because of darkness onFriday in the rain---delayed US PGA Tour event. No-one has yet completed 18 holes!
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PGATOUR.COM: Complete coverage of the Puerto Rico Open
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Heavy morning rain suspended play just 20 minutes after the first tee time and the round didn't resume until 4:35 p.m. Downpours also forced the suspension of play Thursday, when 6.6 inches fell at oceanside Trump International Golf Club-Puerto Rico.
The 45-year-old Kendall holed a 7-iron shot from 159 yards for eagle on the par-4 10th on Thursday, then chipped in for birdie on the par-3 11th Friday morning. He also birdied the par-4 13th and par-3 16th.
"Overall, I hit some really quality shots out there. I like the way I'm playing right now, and hopefully that will continue," Kendall said.
Richard S. Johnson and Kevin Streelman were 4 under. Johnson completed eight holes, and Streelman played seven. John Daly was 1 under through eight.
Kendall has barely used his putter, which elicited some good-natured ribbing from his fellow players.
"Coming back into the clubhouse, I took a lot of heckling from the guys. `Are you not going to use your putter today? How's that putting lesson I gave you working out?' I took a lot of heck from the guys," Kendall said.
Tournament Chairman Sidney Wolf was looking forward to better weather for the weekend, but he said he was pleased with how the course was faring amid the rains.
"The golf course is in better shape than most of us knew it would be after 14-plus inches of rain. It's held up very nicely," Wolf said.
During the delay Friday, players lingered around the clubhouse when they weren't practising putting or testing their drivers.
At midday, an unusual strategy for drying the waterlogged course got under way. A helicopter belonging to Trump International Golf Club owner Jorge Diaz hovered over the first fairway, its powerful propeller acting as an enormous blowdryer.
Tommy Armour III withdrew Friday. He was replaced by alternate Grant Waite.