CANADA STILL LEAD BUT USA MAKE BIG MOVE IN FLORIDA

  FROM THE USGA WEBSITE

By Christina Lance

Miami – Canada remains atop the leaderboard with a three-day total of 19-over 883 following today's third round of the 2013 Copa de las Americas, being conducted on the par-72 TPC Blue Monster Course at Doral Golf Resort amd Spa, Miami.
The USA Team made the largest move, sparked by under-par performances from World No. 1 Chris Williams (70) and Erynne Lee (71).
The USA, which started the round in fifth, jumped into a tie for second with Mexico at 24-over 888. First-round leader Argentina is fourth at 30-over 894, followed by Colombia at 32-over 896.
Canada and Mexico lead the men’s championship at even-par 432, with Colombia two strokes behind. The USA moved to the head of the pack in the women’s championship at 17-over 449 and holds a two-stroke lead over Canada.
The 2013 Copa de las Americas, conducted by the Americas Golf Association and hosted by the United States Golf Association, is a team event for amateurs in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. It consists of three 72-hole stroke-play competitions – overall, men and women – that end on Sunday.
For the second consecutive day, Albin Choi led the Canadians, shooting 2-under 70. The North Carolina State University junior had an uneven round of eight birdies and six bogeys.
“The pins were a lot tougher today and the wind was a little up,” said Choi, a former member of Canada’s National Team. “I was rolling the putter really well today. But I also had a lot of unforced errors.”
Corey Conners, a junior at Kent State University, contributed an even-par 72. Choi’s fellow Wolfpack golfer Augusta James carded her third consecutive 4-over 76, while 15-year-old Brooke Mackenzie Henderson shot 3-over 75.
Like Choi, Henderson struggled with the wind. While not steady, the breezes, which exceeded 10 mph, bedeviled players as they took on the Blue Monster.
“I’ve been hitting the ball well, but it’s been a struggle around the greens,” said Henderson, who won on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour in 2012. “They’re pretty fast at times and it gets pretty windy. Even the wind seems to affect [putts] sometimes.”
The USA’s 291 was the lowest team score on Saturday. Williams closed with a 15-foot birdie on the par-4 18th, where he found the water during the opening round.
“I said I’m not even going to bother with [going for the green],” said Williams, a senior at the University of Washington. “I'd rather be in the right trees than the water. Luckily I turned one over.”
Perhaps buoyed by a once-in-a-lifetime encounter on Friday night, when she high-fived LeBron James during the Miami Heat game attended by the USA Team, Lee was the only female player to finish in the red on Saturday.
“I started off pretty hot,” said the UCLA sophomore. “After the turn I was three under, and after that it got a little bit shaky for me. My caddie helped me cool down throughout the round.”
In the span of four holes (11-14), Lee dropped from three under to even. But a birdie at 18 sent Lee into Sunday’s final round with a brighter perspective.
“It made me feel a little better about myself,” she said.
Her teammate, Duke University senior Lindy Duncan, played her first two rounds at 10 over par. But she finally had seemed to figure out the tough Blue Monster Course – until the final hole. Duncan missed her approach at the 18th hole well right of the green, hit a pitch that came up short and into a bunker, then bladed the sand shot into the water. Her quadruple-bogey gave her a round of 4-over 76. Steven Fox, the 2012 U.S. Amateur champion, carded his second consecutive 2-over 74.
Mexico also made a move on Saturday, jumping from fourth into a share of second place. University of North Texas teammates Rodolfo Cazaubon (71) and Carlos Ortiz (72) led their charge.
“I missed a couple of short putts and that hurt me,” said a confident Ortiz. “But I know I’m hitting the ball good, and I’m going to have a good round tomorrow.”
Gabriela Lopez, a freshman at the University of Arkansas, made the turn at three under. However, four bogeys and a double bogey on her inward nine dropped her to 3-over 75. Fabiola Arriaga, who plays for the University of Texas at San Antonio, carded a 4-over 76, her best round of the championship.

Christina Lance is an assistant manager of communications for the USGA. Email her at clance@usga.org.
THIRD ROUND SCOREBOARD
 Par 216 (3x72) Yardate: 7,099 for men; 6,205 for women

Overall Championship 
883 (300-290-293)  Canada (Albin Choi 76-68-70—214; Corey Conners 77-69-72—218; Brooke Mackenzie Henderson 71-77-75—223; Augusta James 76-76-76—228)
888 (298-296-294)  Mexico (Carlos Ortiz 68-74-72—214; Rodolfo Cazaubon 77-70-71—218; Gabriela López 73-71-75—219; Fabiola Arriaga 80-81-76—237)
888 (295-302-291) United States (Chris Williams 71-75-70—216; Erynne Lee 73-75-71—219; Steven Fox 75-74-74—223; Lindy Duncan 76-78-76—230)
894 (293-298-303)  Argentina (Jaime López Rivarola 74-69-73—216; Alejandro Tosti 72-76-72—220; María Olivero 72-78-78—228; Delfina Acosta 75-75-80—230)
896 (295-297-304)  Colombia (Carlos Ernesto Rodriguez 71-71-71—213; Ricardo José Celia 70-75-76—221; Laura Blanco 75-70-76—221; Camila Serrano 79-81-81—241)
937 (312-306-319) Trinidad and Tobago (Monifa Sealy 78-78-76—232; Matthew Marquez 72-79-82—233; Talin Rajendranath 80-73-81—234; Kelsey Lou-Hing 82-76-80—238)
No Show (311-311-NS)  Venezuela (Gustavo Morantes 73-73-78—224; Jorge Garcia 74-73-78—225; María Alejandra Merchán 82-82-80—244; Claudia de Antonio 82-83-DQ)
No Show (335-325-NS)  Guatemala (Lucia Polo 76-77-74—227; Sebastian Barnoya 82-78-74—234; Rodrigo Olivero 81-82-85—248; Pilar Echeverría 96-88-DQ)
Men’s Championship
432 (153-137-142)  Canada (Albin Choi 76-68-70—214; Corey Conners 77-69-72—218)
432 (145-144-143)  Mexico (Carlos Ortiz 68-74-72—214; Rodolfo Cazaubon 77-70-71—2180
434 (141-146-147)  Colombia (Carlos Ernesto Rodriguez 71-71-71—213; Ricardo José Celia 70-75-76—221)
436 (146-145-145)  Argentina (Jaime López Rivarola 74-69-73—216; Alejandro Tosti 72-76-72—220)
439 (146-149-144)  United States (Chris Williams 71-75-70—216; Steven Fox 75-74-74—223)
446 (149-144-153)  Puerto Rico (Edward Figueroa 75-73-75—223; Erick Morales 74-71-78—223)
448 (154-151-143) Panama (Omar Tejeira 74-74-70—218; Miguel Ordoñez 80-77-73—230)
449 (147-146-156) Venezuela (Gustavo Morantes 73-73-78—224; Jorge Garcia 74-73-78—225)
452 (155-146-151) Peru (Joaquin Lolas 76-67-74—217; Miguel Tola 79-79-77—235)
467 (152-152-163)  Trinidad and Tobago (Matthew Marquez 72-79-82—233; Talin Rajendranath 80-73-81—234)
482 (163-160-159)   Guatemala (Sebastian Barnoya 82-78-74—234; Rodrigo Olivero 81-82-85—248)

Women’s Championship
449 (149-153-147)  USA (Erynne Lee 73-75-71—219; Lindy Duncan 76-78-76—230)
451 (147-153-151)  Canada (Brooke Mackenzie Henderson 71-77-75—223; Augusta James 76-76-76—228)
456 (153-152-151)  Mexico (Gabriela López 73-71-75—219; Fabiola Arriaga 80-81-76—237)
458 (147-153-158) Argentina (María Olivero 72-78-78—228; Delfina Acosta 75-75-80—230)
462 (154-151-157) Colombia (Laura Blanco 75-70-76—221; Camila Serrano 79-81-81—241)
470 (160-154-156)  Trinidad and Tobago (Monifa Sealy 78-78-76—232; Kelsey Lou-Hing 82-76-80—238)
No Show (164-165-NS)  Venezuela (María Alejandra Merchán 82-82-80—244; Claudia de Antonio 82-83-DQ)
No Show (172-165-NS)  Guatemala (Lucia Polo 76-77-74—227; Pilar Echeverría 96-88-DQ)

HAWAII WINDS BLOW PLAY FOR SECOND DAY - NOW SUNDAY START?

 FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
 By Ann Miller, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
KAPALUA, Maui, Hawaii -- Driving winds have forced the postponement of the opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions for the second straight day.
US PGA Tour officials hope to get in 36 holes on Sunday and play 18 on Monday’s final day, declaring a champion after 54 holes.
“We got balls rolling all over the green, so we have cancelled play for the day,” said PGA TOUR rules official Slugger White. He said winds gusting over 50 mph were moving balls on the 10th, 11th and 13th greens, even pushing them uphill on the 10th.
Friday’s opening round was wiped out with the first group through eight holes. Three groups did not tee off after an official saw Carl Pettersson’s 40-foot putt on the second green get blown 30 feet past the hole and off the green.
Officials hoped to play two rounds Saturday at 7:30 a.m. local time. The start was delayed an hour just before the first groups were to tee off, and the delay eventually reached three hours.
At approximately 10:20 a.m., officials made the decision to try again Sunday, going off the first and 10th tees from 7:10 a.m. local time (12:10 p.m. ET).
“Forecast for tomorrow is a little better, 15- to 25 mph with gusts, maybe, to 30,” White said. “A little less moisture, more like pineapple showers than these downpours that we have had.”
Brandt Snedecker has not struck an official shot in 2013. He is playing in the final group with defending champion Steve Stricker and they did not tee off Friday. Snedecker was happy with the officials’ decision.
“Yeah, they did do the right thing,” Snedeker said. “It's just a little too windy out there for us to play.  If the course wasn't so exposed, it wouldn't be a problem, but you have a lot of greens exposed to 40-mile-an-hour wind gusts.
“It's tough to make that call.  They did the right thing. We had to try to play today if we wanted to try to get 72 holes in. Unfortunately a short day, but hopefully get out tomorrow and get some golf.”
Hunter Mahan said the 30 players were trying to take the delays in stride.
“It’s difficult,” Mahan said. “We are in such a cool place and we can't really do much. It's strange when you go down the road 10 minutes or 15, 20 minutes and it's great, it looks beautiful over there but for some reason right here, it's tough.
“It's difficult to figure out if you want to go hit balls right now or wait till later or what you want to do.  I think we all are trying to figure out what to do and what's the best plan for us to get ready for the next two days or three days.”

Stay tuned to PGATOUR.COM or Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/PGATOUR) for updates.

HARRINGTON SAYS MONTY WOULD BE MAD TO ACCEPT RYDER CUP CAPTAINCY AGAIN

FROM BT YAHOO.SPORT 
Colin Montgomerie would be mad to entertain the thought of returning as Europe's captain for the 2014 Ryder Cup, according to triple Major winner Padraig Harrington (pictured). 
The players committee will meet during the January 17-20 Abu Dhabi Championship to decide on the successor to Spain's Jose Maria Olazabal at the biennial team event, with 2011 Open champion Darren Clarke and Ireland's Paul McGinley the frontrunners.  
Clarke, however, said last month that he believes Europe should appoint a leader with a "huge presence," suggesting 2010 skipper Montgomerie should be considered.
"There's not a chance, after what he went through last time, that Colin would ever take the captaincy again," Harrington told Reuters in an interview.
"He puts so much more on the line than anybody else - it would be madness for him. He's had a great Ryder Cup playing career, he's been a successful captain - why risk all that?
"I can't see in any shape or form him agreeing to do it again."
The United States, desperate to halt a run of seven defeats in nine editions, appointed eight-times Major champion Tom Watson as captain last month.
"That was a big statement and brilliant for the event," said Clarke. "There are few more iconic figures in golf...and it sends out a statement they are serious about winning the trophy back at Gleneagles in 2014.
"Maybe we have to consider other people. Whoever it is standing on that stage opposite Tom Watson needs a huge presence."
But Harrington, who won the Open in 2007 and 2008 and the US PGA Championship in 2008, said half of Montgomerie's career would go out of the window if he lost as skipper.
"I had a long chat with Monty the evening we won the Ryder Cup in 2010," said the 41-year-old Irishman. "I could see the relief Colin had when he won.
"I don't think he quite realised until then the enormity of being captain for him. Most players who take the captaincy, whether they win or lose, it doesn't change people's perception of their overall career.
"Monty's career though is based on his eight order of merit wins and his Ryder Cup performances," added Harrington who has just signed a new multi-year deal with his club manufacturers Wilson Golf.
"By taking the captaincy he's putting far more on the line than anybody else because it would be hard to mention that he's unbeaten in the singles in the competition but, oh, he's also a losing captain as well. That would take the shine off his great record."
Harrington, a stalwart of six Ryder Cup campaigns, wants fellow-Irishman McGinley to take over as skipper at Gleneagles next year before handing over to Northern Irishman Clarke for the 2016 version in the United States.
"Everybody's talking about it on the European Tour," said Harrington. "My own personal opinion is that McGinley should take it this time and for Clarke to do it in the US.
"I think Darren would be a better captain in America because of his stature over there. McGinley would be a better option to go up against Watson.
"He can't match Watson in terms of his stature in the game - nobody can do that. The only way McGinley would tackle a Ryder Cup is to knuckle down and do his own business and organise things - he would be ideal for Gleneagles."
Harrington, who launches his 2013 European Tour campaign at next week's Volvo Golf Champions event in South Africa, said he had heard on the golfing grapevine that Watson was going to be named as US captain.
"That was the word, so it was no surprise when I found out he was appointed," said the genial Dubliner. "I had kind of heard earlier that they were going to do something different.
"I can understand it - they're not dominating the Ryder Cup and they need to bring in the heavyweight hitters to get the trophy back.
"They don't have the luxury at the moment of going through the ranks to pick the captain - they have to go right to the top of the pile and unless you pick Jack Nicklaus, there's no one else who carries the stature of Tom Watson," added Harrington.
"It will be fascinating for the US players because if you can learn anything from Tom Watson, anything at all during Ryder Cup week, it would be a career highlight."

BAD WEATHER WIPES OUT FIRST-DAY SCORES ON HAWAII

Well, the sun doesn't always shine on Hawaii!

Bad weather wiped out the opening round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on the Pacific island meaning a clean restart on Saturday.

American Webb Simpson was leading on three under after seven holes when play was stopped, but his score will be scratched alongwith the others when they get going again over the weekend.
Simpson said: "We were experiencing huge gusts and we were struggling just to stay upright."
"It started off bad and got worse," Slugger White, the US PGA Tour's vice-president of rules and operations, told www.pgatour.com.
"It was pretty nasty out there."

Play had already been suspended twice because of torrential rain and strong winds blowing up to 45mph before the day was finally scrapped.
It will be the first time since the 2005 Players Championship a round has been restarted.
"It stinks for me," Simpson, who had his umbrella broken and said he felt like he was "in a hurricane".
"I got off to a great start, but it's how it goes. The good news is, I'm playing well. I'll try to carry it into tomorrow (Saturday)."
Scott Stallings, who was last on the leaderboard at seven over after four holes, added:
  "I was the biggest benefactor of the whole deal, but I'd like to know how Webb was three under par through all that."