SPIETH (19) WINS PLACE AT MUIRFIELD BY WINNING DEERE CLASSIC PLAY-OFF

 

    Jordan Spieth with the John Deere Classic trophy. Picture by courtesy of Getty Images(c)

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

SILVIS, Illinois: Nineteen-year-old Jordan Spieth outlasted David Hearn and Zach Johnson on the fifth hole of a play-off to win the John Deere Classic on Sunday, becoming the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour in 82 years.

Spieth, who played in the R and A Junior Open four years ago and who doesn't turn 20 for another two weeks, hit a two-foot par putt to earn full status on the US PGA Tour and a chance to play in the FedExCup Playoffs. He makes his debut in the FedExCup standings at No. 11 and, as a bonus, gains a spot in the British Open field at Muirfield this week. 
 He is also the first teenager to win a US PGA Tour title win since Ralph Guldahl took the Santa Monica Open in 1931.
"I didn't think it would happen this early," said Spieth, who turned professional in December. "I had a plan. I guess the plan got exceeded."
Spieth started the day six shots behind third-round leader Daniel Summerhays. But he forced his way into the playoff by holing out of the bunker from 44 feet on the final hole of regulation.
Spieth got lucky when that shot took a pair of fortuitous bounces. But he also put himself in that position with a brilliant final round.
"The shot on 18 was the luckiest shot I ever hit in my life," Spieth said. "The fact that it bounced right and hit the pin and dropped down to the cup, it's just extremely fortunate."
Spieth, Hearn and Johnson then made par on the first four playoff holes, but Spieth made another par to stave off Johnson and Hearn on the fifth.
Johnson, the defending champion at TPC Deere Run, seized control midway through the final round of regulation, but he simply couldn't get enough birdies to put the field away, and his uncharacteristic bogey on No. 18 set up a three-man playoff.

All three players had their chances to make a playoff-ending shot -- with Johnson narrowly missing from the back of the green on a chip shot that clipped the cup on the first playoff hole.
Johnson hit the ground in disbelief. It would turn out to be the closest he would get to victory.
"I had my chances on the back side in regulation. I mean, I hit some really good shots and just didn't make anything," Johnson said.
Hearn, from Canada, also had a shot at the win, which would have been his first on the PGA TOUR, as well. But he missed a makeable putt on the fourth playoff hole.
"Congrats to Jordan. He's going to have an amazing career, obviously. He's an incredible talent to come on TOUR at his age and have as much success as quickly as he has. So hat's off to him," Hearn said.
Spieth, Hearn and Johnson all went right on their final tee shot. Spieth scrambled out of the rough, though, finding the back of the green to save par and win his first PGA TOUR event.
Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rory McIlroy were all 20 when they earned their first victories, but none of them could match Spieth, who is now the fourth-youngest winner in TOUR history.
"Just got so lucky. That's what it is. But right now I'm extremely pleased, and a little worried about only having short sleeves going to Scotland," Spieth said.

About the winner: Jordan Spieth

• Jordan Spieth became the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour since Ralph Guldahl won the 1931 Santa Monica Open at the age of 19 years, 8 months and 3 days. • Spieth started the week as a Special Temporary Member , who opened the season with no PGA TOUR status. He played this week’s John Deere Classic on his own number and holed a 45-foot bunker shot on the 72nd hole for birdie and a 6-under 65, resulting in sudden death with defending  champion Zach Johnson and David Hearn. Spieth won with a par on the fifth extra hole. • As a Special Temporary Member, Spieth needed a win to become a regular member in order to qualify for the FedExCup Playoffs. With the win, his 614 Non-Member points become retroactive and are added to the 500 he earns for the win, giving him 1,114 points. With that, Spieth is projected to move inside the top 20 in FedExCup standings, safely securing his spot in the FedExCup Playoffs (The top 125 players plus ties through the Wyndham Championship qualify for The Barclays). • With the win, Spieth earns the last spot into this week’s Open Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. Since 1934, only 10 players have followed a win with a major championship title the next week. The last to do so was Tiger Woods in 2007, when he won the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational the week before claiming his fourth PGA Championship crown. It will be his second golfing visit to Britain. He played in the R and A Junior Open for Under-16s at a Lancashire venue four years ago.  • If not otherwise exempt, Spieth earns a spot into these additional 2013 and 2014 PGA TOUR events: 2013 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational, 2013 PGA Championship, 2014 Hyundai Tournament of Champions, 2014 Masters Tournament.

LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
Players from USA unless stated
265 Zach Johnson 64 66 67 68, Jordan Spieth 70 65 65 65, David Hearn (Canada) 66 66 64 69 (Spieth won sudden-death play-off at fifth extra hole).
266 Martin Flores 67 67 67 63, Jerry Kelly 68 64 66 68, Daniel Summerhays 65 67 62 72.

TO FIND OUT ALL THE FINAL TOTALS

CLICK HERE

FRASER GRANT WINS LADY DE ROBECK TROPHY

REPORT AND PICTURE BY
WILLIE SHARPE

Fraser Grant of Ralston Golf Club won the Lady De Robeck Trophy at Carnwath Golf Club today after a three way play-off. Fraser, Ross Hinshelwood and Kevin Loughrie all tied on 141 after 36 holes. 

In the three hole play off three pars was enough to give 21 year old Fraser Grant the trophy. Fraser is studying Business Studies at West of Scotland university in Paisley and plays for Glasgow County Team.

LEADING SCORES      CSS   HOME 70  70   AWAY  72  72

   Fraser Grant                         Ralston            68  73  141

 Ross Hinshelwood              East Kilbride   70  71  141

Kevin Loughrie                    Cambuslang    70  71  141

 James Laird                          Carnwath        74  69  143

 Stewart Henderson            Hamilton         72  73  145

Ryan McKenzie                    Erskine             71  74  145

 Andrew  Davies                   Bellshill             67  78  145

  Glen Mc Ardle                      Carnwath         72  74  146

 Kevin Flynn                           Lanark               72  76  148

 Graeme Cross                        Hamilton          74  76  150

 Colin Smith                           Carnwath             74  77  151

Keith Turnbull                      Larkhall               72  79  151

Lee Preston                           Carnwath            78  74  152

 Craig Stewart                       Hayston               76  78  154

 David Mc Millan                  Lanark                  78  77  155         

MATTHEW CLARK WINS SUTHERLAND CHALICE FOR FIRST TIME

Left to right: Club captain Ian Beattie, Claire Thomson (daughter of Jack Sutherland who donated the trophy), Matthew Clark, Eamon Bradley and Scott Crichton.

By COLIN FARQUHARSON

Colin@scottishgolfview.com

Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark won the Sutherland Chalice 72-hole SGU Order of Merit tournament at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club this evening for the first time after quite a few attempts - but only after a dramatic finish.

Clark, three behind halfway leader Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) at the start of today's final two rounds,  had gone three shots clear of the field with a third-round 66.
But Bradley rallied to close the gap as Clark lost his momentum over the final round.

In fact, Bradley holed a long birdie putt at the 16th to take a one-shot lead. But, tragically, for the 20-year-old Southeastern Louisiana University student from Coatbridge, he drove out of bounds at the the 17th and 18th holes.

Clark, a banker when he is not winning amateur golf tournaments (which he does quite often!), finished with a three-over-par 73 - his worst of the four rounds - for a six-under-par winning total of 274.

Bradley closed with a 72 to finish two shots behind in second place on 276.

Scott Crichton (Aberdour), third last year, finished joint third on 277 with Daniel Young (Craigie Hill), winner of the Cameron Corbett Vase four-rounder at Haggs Castle the previous weekend.

Crichton will be rueing his start to the tournament - the first hole cost him an 8.
Young was going well until his final inward half although he did birdie the 18th to finish with a smile on his face.
James Ross (Royal Burgess), winner of the Sutherland Chalice last year, was unable to defend for the best of reasons. He was playing for Scotland in the European men's team championship in Denmark and helped the Scots get to the final where they lost narrowly to England.

FINAL TOTALS

Par 280 (4x70) CSS 71 72 71 72

274 Matthew Clark (Kilmacolm) 66 69 66 73

276 Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) 66 66 72 72

277 Scott Crichton (Aberdour) 69 68 71 69, Daniel Young (Craigie Hill) 67 71 68 71

278 Michael Daily (Erskine) 68 70 68 72.

279 James White (Lundin) 69 68 69 73.

280 Alexander Culverwell (Dnbar) 67 71 70 72, Allyn Dick (Kingsknowe) 72 66 71 71, Neil Henderson (Renaissance) 71 70 70 69

281 Craig Ross (Kirkhill) 66 70 72 73, Jamie Savage (Cawder) 69 72 70 70.

282 Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs) 71 69 69 73, Adam Dunton (McDonald Ellon) 71 73 68 70.

283 Anthony Blaney (Liberton) 71 68 70 74, Ross Bell (Downfield) 69 71 73 70, Colin Baird (Bothwell Castle) 74 71 68 70, Fraser McKenna (Balmore) 70 71 74 68.

286 Scott Gibson (Southerness) 70 75 69 72, Michael Smyth (Royal Troon) 66 75 74 71, Chris Robb (Meldrum House) 75 71 72 68.

288 Malcolm Pennycott (Whiting Bay, Arran) 76 70 72 70.

289 Chris Corbett (Dumfries and Galloway) 71 72 74 72.

290 Conor O'Neil (Pollok) 70 72 71 77, Lewis Bain (Turnhouse) 72 70 75 73, Mark Owenson (Longniddry) 71 74 73 72.

291 James Hendrick (Pollok) 69 76 72 74, Kyle McClung (Wigtownshire Co) 69 77 73 72.

292 Alan Sutherland (Ladybank) 72 68 73 69, Jamie Lamb (Lanark) 70 71 73 78, Calum Cochrane (Dalmahoy) 67 76 71 78, Fraser Moore (Glenbervie) 70 72 75 75.

293 Tom Spencer (Meldrum House) 73 73 76 71, Stuart Haddow (Falkirk) 69 77 76 71.

294 Liam Johnston (Dumfries and Co) 73 71 74 76, Daniel Thompsett (Aboyne) 71 70 80 73.

296 Steven Stewart (Clydebank Overtain) 69 71 78 78, Liam Halliday (Cardross) 86 69 78 73, John Duff (Newmachar) 69 76 78 73.

298 Kenny MacAskill (Turnberry Staff) 72 73 77 76, David Wilson (Troon Welbeck) 70 76 77 75.

299 Angus Carrick (Douglas Park) 74 71 80 74.

No  Returns - Nick Macandrew (Royal Aberdeen) 77 66 73 NR; Scott Brown (Turnberry) 70 73 78 NR.

Withdrew: Colin Colraine (Balmore) 72 73 withdrew.

SCROLL DOWN TO SATURDAY'S NEWS ITEMS TO SEE THE SCORES OF THOSE WHO MISSED THE 36-HOLE CUT.

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MICKELSON WIN GIVES SCOTT STALLINGS PLACE AT MUIRFIELD

NEWS RELEASE FROM THE R AND A

Scott Stallings has taken his place in the field for the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield this week.

The 28-year-old from Massachusetts was the first non-exempt player on the Reserve List and secured his place when the Scottish Open was won by Phil Mickelson who is already exempt. 

The updated Reserve List is as follows:

1st reserve: Joost Luiten – Netherlands

2nd reserve: Brendon de Jonge – Zimbabwe

3rd reserve: David Lingmerth – Sweden

4th reserve: Bae Sang-moon – Korea

5th reserve: Kevin Chappell - USA

6th reserve: Pablo Larrazabal – Spain

7th reserve: John Merrick – USA

8th reserve: Chris Kirk – USA

9th reserve: Jaco Van Zyl – South Africa

10th reserve: Charley Hoffman - USA

McLEARY FINISHES JOINT FOURTH, BOOTH 12TH IN SWISS CHALLENGE

REPORT FROM EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

  By SARAH GWYNN

Victor Riu overcame a nervous start to claim his maiden Challenge Tour title at the Swiss Challenge, posting a final round one under par 70 to win by three shots.

The Frenchman, who started the day with a four stroke lead, was two over par after ten holes, but rallied on the back nine to hold off Englishman Adam Gee, who drew level at one stage but ultimately had to settle for a share of second place after a 67. 

Alongside Gee was young American Brinson Paolini, who was playing his first tournament as a professional and first event in Europe, and showed he is one to watch after carding weekend rounds of 64 and 65.

Riu looked to be on the ropes at one stage, but a birdie at the 15th coupled with a bogey for Gee, playing in the group in front, gave him a two shot cushion. The Paris-based player then birdied the 16th and 17th for good measure, meaning Gee’s eagle-bogey finish did not affect the outcome. 

“I’m so happy, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” said the 28 year old,” who posted a course-record 62 in the third round. “I struggled a lot at the start so I’m delighted that I was able to produce a strong finish.

“I was very nervous and tight on the first few holes and I didn’t trust my swing. I was in the last group last week and didn’t finish well, so I learned from that that I needed to relax. 

“My putting was a lot better on the back nine, and it was important to get that birdie on the 17th to play the last with no pressure. It’s a tricky hole with a difficult green, and it’s easy to make bogey. On the 17th there was still only one shot in it, as I didn’t know Adam had bogeyed the last, so it was a relief to make a birdie there.”

Riu, who collected €25,600 and rises to third in the Rankings, added: “The goal is still to finish the season in the top 15 and move up to The European Tour, and hopefully I will do that now I have won. This is my fifth season on the Challenge Tour, so it’s about time I moved on.”

Paolini was delighted with his debut as a professional, having been inspired by the likes of Peter Uihlein and Brooks Koepka to start his career on this side of the Atlantic.

“I’m just grateful to be here and I’ve been fortunate to take advantage of the opportunity to play this week,” said the Duke University graduate. “I wanted to put a little more pressure on Victor coming in. I thought if I could get to 17 under I’d have a chance, but I can’t complain – it’s been a great week.

“The eagle on the 17th was nice – I made a long putt. Overall it’s been a lot of fun and it has given me a lot of confidence for next week. To know that I can compete and contend out here is huge, and hopefully I can do the same again in Italy.”
Jamie McLeary earned 8,000 Euros for finishing joint fourth.
Wallace Booth finished 12th and earned 3,040 Euros 

  

FINAL TOTALS

Par 284 (4x71)

265 V Riu  (Fra) 69 64 62 70

268 B Paolini (USA) 70 69 64 65, A Gee  (Eng) 66 69 66 67

269 S Kim (Kor) 67 66 70 66, J McLeary  (Sco) 70 64 65 70, P Oriol (Esp) 70 69 66 64

270 J Carlsson (Swe) 69 66 67 68, A Perrino  (Ita) 71 64 65 70, R Kakko  (Fin) 72 68 67 63

271 M Crespi  (Ita) 68 68 66 69, T Nørret (Den) 67 69 68 67

272 W Booth  (Sco) 69 69 65 69

273 N Ravano (Ita) 69 69 66 69, C Hanson (Eng) 68 68 69 68, A Pavan (Ita) 65 71 69 68, B Ritthammer (Ger) 69 70 67 67, P Edberg (Swe) 69 66 67 71, M Rominger  (Sui) 66 73 69 65

274 S Tiley (Eng) 68 65 70 71, D Huizing (Ned) 69 66 69 70, A Velasco (Esp) 69 70 68 67

275 J Lima  (Por) 69 69 70 67

276 Z Scotland  (Eng) 73 66 67 70, J Maurer  (Aut) 72 67 69 68, D Frittelli (RSA) 73 67 73 63

277 J Elson  (Eng) 65 66 73 73, B Parker  (Eng) 64 71 71 71, J Garcia Pinto (Esp) 73 68 69 67, A Ahokas (Fin) 67 71 69 70, P Relecom  (Bel) 70 71 71 65

278 D Geminiani (Ita) 72 64 71 71

279 R Steiner (Aut) 69 68 75 67, F De Vries  (Ned) 68 68 70 73, C Kim (USA) 71 68 72 68, A Johnston (Eng) 69 71 70 69, M Trappel  (Aut) 66 72 72 69, G Cambis  (Fra) 70 68 70 71, J Guerrier  (Fra) 64 69 74 72, J Lando Casanova  (Fra) 69 70 70 70

280 J Glennemo (Swe) 70 68 66 76, S Manley (Wal) 64 73 70 73,

281 E Espana (Fra) 71 68 71 71, J Frazer (Wal) 72 67 69 73, D Nouailhac (Fra) 68 71 73 69, N Quintarelli (Ita) 67 73 70 71

282 R Saxton (Ned) 68 70 74 70, G Boyd  (Eng) 72 66 71 73, T Remkes (Ned) 72 69 70 71, D Griffiths  (Eng) 66 69 77 70, J Pastor Lopez (Esp) 73 68 70 71, S Whiffin (Eng) 73 66 72 71, D Im (USA) 72 68 65 77, A Bernadet  (Fra) 66 71 74 71, T Pulkkanen  (Fin) 71 70 73 68, N Floren (Swe) 69 71 74 68, J Doherty  (Sco) 69 72 70 71

283 A Maestroni  (Ita) 71 70 69 73, S Garcia Rodriguez (Esp) 71 65 76 71

284 R Dinwiddie  (Eng) 70 70 71 73, B An (Kor) 74 67 75 68

285 N Elvira  (Esp) 71 70 75 69, L Bjerregaard  (Den) 69 72 74 70

286 D Palm (Swe) 73 68 73 72, T Murray (Eng) 69 71 73 73, J Huldahl (Den) 68 69 77 72

287 C Aguilar  (Esp) 67 73 76 71

290 L Goddard  (Eng) 74 67 76 73

291 D Stewart (Sco) 71 70 72 78

292 J Clément  (Sui) 71 68 81 72

 

EUROPEAN TOUR COMMUNICATIONS

SCANDINAVIAN 1-2 IN CLOSING STAGES OF SCOTTISH OPEN AT CASTLE STUART

 Two Scandinavians, overnight leader Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and J B Hansen (Norway) are sharing the lead at 16 under par in the closing stages of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open championship at the Castle Stuart Links, between Inverness and Nairn.
Later news: Hansen got another birdie to be in the lead on his own at 17 under par after 11 holes. 
Even later news: Phil Mickelson, barring a catastrophe at the final hole, is going to win the AAM Scottish Open.

HERE IS THE TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD
Par 288 (4x72)
J B Hansen (Norway)           17 under par after 11 holes
Henrik Stenson (Sweden)     16 under par after eight holes
Phil Mickelson (USA)           15 under par after eight holes
Martin Laird (Scotland)        14 under par after 16 holes.
Gareth Maybin (N Ireland)   14 under par after 11 holes
John Parry (England)            14 under par after 10 holes
Branden Grace (S Africa)     14 under par after 10 holes


SCOTS' COMPLETED TOTALS
282 Marc Warren 71 68 22 71(T38)
283 Greig Hutcheon 69 71 69 74 (T42_
284 Paul Lawrie 69 71 73 71, David Drysdale 70 69 70 75 (T49)
285 Scott Henry 69 69 73 74 (T57)
290 Craig Lee 68 69 77 76 (68th)

MATTHEW CLARK LEADS BY THREE IN SUTHERLAND CHALICE AFTER THIRD ROUND

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Colin@scottishgolfview.com
Kilmacolm's Matthew Clark has turned the tables on overnight leader Eamon Bradley (Mount Ellen) in the third round of the Sutherland Chalice - this weekend's SGU 72-hole Order of Merit event - at Dumfries and Galloway Golf Club.

Out in 33 (-3) to Bradley's 37 (+1), Clark (pictured by Cal Carson Golf Agency) finished the round in four-under-par 66 to Bradley's 72 - a six shot swing over the 18 holes.
Clark leads with one round to go on nine-under-par 201, three ahead of Bradley (204) with three players on 206 - James White (Lundin), Michael Daily (Erskine) and Daniel Young (Craigie Hill).
Young, winner of the Cameron Corbet Vase for the second year in a row at Haggs Castle GC, Glasgow last Sunday, came home in 32 this morning, the best inward half of the weekend.

    Player    Club    CSS:71      CSS:72        CSS:71
Par 140 (2x70)    
1st    Mathew Clark    (Kilmalcolm)        66   69   66    201
2nd    Eamon Bradley    (Mount Ellen)    66  66   72    204
3rd    James White    (Lundin )                69    68   69    206
4th    Michael Daily    (Erskine)              68    70   68    206
5th    Daniel Young    (Cragie Hill)          67   71   68    206
6th    Craig Ross    (Kirkhill)                    66   70   72    208
7th    Scott Crichton    (Aberdour)           69   68   71    208
8th    Alexander Culverwell    (Dunbar)  67   71   70    208
8th    Allyn Dick    (Kingsknowe)            72   66   71    209
10th    Anthony Blaney    (Liberton)       71   68   70    209
11th    Gordon Stevenson (Whitecraigs)  71  69    69    209
11th    Neil Henderson    (Renaissance)  71    70   70    211
13th    Jamie Savage    (Cawder)             69    72   70    211
13th    Adam Dunton    (McDonald)       71    73   68    212
13th    Alan Sutherland    (Ladybank)    72    68   73    213
13th    Ross Bell    (Downfield)              69    71   73    213
21    Conor O'Neil    (Pollok)                 70    72   71     213
16    Colin Baird    (Bothwell Castle)    74    71   68    213
19    Jamie Lamb    (Lanark)                 70    71   73    214
18    Calum Cochrane     (Dalmahoy)    67    76    143    71    214
28    Scott Gibson    (Southerness)    70    75    145    69    214
25    Fraser McKenna    (Balmore)    70    71    141    74    215
24    Michael Smyth    (Royal Troon)    66    75    141    74    215
17    Nick MacAndrew    (Royal Aberdeen)    77    66    143    73    216
13    Lewis Bain    (Turnhouse)    72    70    142    75    217
12    Fraser Moore    (Glenbervie)    70    72    142    75    217
11    Chris Corbett    (Dumfries & Galloway)    71    72    143    74    217
30    James Hendrick    (Pollock)    69    76    145    72    217
29    Steven Stewart    (Clydebank Overtain)    69    71    140    78    218
34    Liam Johnston    (Dumfries & County)    73    71    144    74    218
27    Mark Owenson    (Longniddry)    71    74    145    73    218
35    Malcolm Pennycott    (Whiting Bay)    76    70    146    72    218
37    Chris Robb    (Meldrum House)    75    71    146    72    218
32    Kyle McClung    (Wigtownshire County)    69    77    146    73    219
31    Daniel Thompsett    (Aboyne)    71    70    141    80    221
38    Scott Brown    (Turnberry)    70    73    143    78    221
39    Kenny MacAskill    (Turnberry Staff)    72    73    145    77    222
33    Tom Spencer    (Meldrum House)    73    73    146    76    222
36    Stuart Haddow     (Falkirk)    69    77    146    76    222
40    Liam Halliday    (Cardross)    76    69    145    78    223
41    John Duff    (Newmachar)    69    76    145    78    223
42    David Wilson    (Troon Welbeck)    70    76    146    77    223
43    Angus Carrick    (Douglas Park)    74    71    145    80    225
44    Colin Colraine    (Balmore)    72    73    145    500    645

ALLEN HANGING ON WITH TWO-HOLE LEAD IN US SENIORS OPEN

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

OMAHA, Nebraska -- Kenny Perry and Fred Funk made charges in the U.S. Senior Open, each pulling within two shots of leader Michael Allen with one round to go on Saturday.

Perry, going for a second straight win in a senior major, shot 6-under 64 to match Corey Pavin for the low round at Omaha Country Club. Funk shot 67 after making a long birdie putt on No. 18.
Allen, who had a 63 on Friday, ballooned to a 2-over 72. He started the day with a 5-stroke advantage over Rocco Mediate. It was the largest lead after 36 holes in the tournament's 34-year history.
Allen was at 8-under 202 for the tournament.
Pavin, who tied for second in last year's tournament, was two shots behind Perry and Funk and four behind Allen.
Mediate faded with bogeys on four of five holes in the middle of his round and sat five shots off the lead after a 72.
Allen said on Friday he had been playing through neck pain. He rubbed the right side of his neck on Saturday as he walked up the 17th fairway. He saved par there, but he bogeyed the 18th to set the stage for a dramatic finish on Sunday.
Allen still led by five after nine holes, but it was down to three after he bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11.
Perry, 10 shots behind Allen after the second round, had nines of 32-32 on Saturday. He started his push with an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. He was the only golfer to birdie the 501-yard, par-4 10th. He drove into the rough but recovered with a pitching wedge to 20 feet.
Perry birdied the par-3 16th and the 297-yard, par-4 17th to get to 6 under for the tournament.
"I birdied the first two holes right out of the gate, kind of set the tone for the day, and it was foot to the floor," Perry said. "I was trying to birdie every hole out there, and I had so many great opportunities. I mean, I played a phenomenal day. It could have been 59."
Funk, the 2009 winner, started his round seven shots off the lead. He birdied Nos. 2, 6 and 7 to get to 6 under.
He recovered from a double-bogey on No. 10 with birdies on three of the last five holes.
On the 18th, he seemed to surprise himself when his 35-foot birdie putt dropped. He turned to the gallery, lifted his left leg, raised his right fist and gave it a pump after the putt dropped.
"To make that putt on 18 was a bonus," Funk said. "Having that good finish was great. At least it kept me in the game."
Allen, a journeyman on the US PGA Tour but a four-time winner since joining the Champions Tour in 2009, started with a 5-shot lead -- the largest after 36 holes in the tournament's 34-year history.
He went out in even-par 35, but he bogeyed three holes on the back nine and came in with a 37.
"Obviously, yesterday was a lot of fun. I made a lot of birdies and very few bogeys," Allen said. "Today I had a few more bads than goods, but it's fun. It's nice to be in the lead. If you'd have given me a 2-shot lead to start the week, I would have been pretty thrilled to have it, I'm sure."
The 6,700-yard course had surrendered just one sub-67 round before Saturday. There were five in the third round, and 27 golfers broke par.

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 210 (3x70)
Players from USA unless stated
202 Michael Allen 67 63 72
204 Kenny Perry 67 73 64, Fred Funk 67 70 67
206 Corey Pavin 69 73 64
207 Rocco Mediate 68 67 72

SELECTED SCORES
210 Bernhard Langer (Germany) 68 74 68 (T18)
212 Barry Lane (England) 73 71 68 (T32)
214 Colin Montgomerie (Scotland) 69 73 72 (T42)
220 Gary Wolstenholme (England) 72 72 76 (T61)

MISSED THE CUT 
146 Paul Wesselingh (England) 71 75
150 Roger Chapman (England) 74 76

SUMMERHAYS SHOOTS A 62 TO LEAD BY TWO AT DEERE CLASSIC

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE

In the third round of the John Deere Classic from TPC Deere Run, Daniel Summerhays shot a 9-under 62 and leads by two strokes at Silvis, Illinois.

Calm skies and a near-perfect course gave every golfer at the John Deere Classic the chance to shoot a really low number on Saturday.

Daniel Summerhays went lower than everyone else, seizing firm control heading into Sunday's final round.
Summerhays shot a 9-under 62 for a two-stroke lead following third-round play. Summerhays, whose previous best finish on the US PGA Tour was a tie for fourth, enters the final round at 19-under 194 and in position for his first career win.
He notched 10 birdies while matching the lowest third-round score in tournament history.
"I think when I'm playing well the mentality is make as many birdies as you can," Summerhays said. "I'm really looking forward to (Sunday). I'm playing really well."
Canadian David Hearn (64) is second at 17 under. Defending champion Zach Johnson held a share of the lead after each of the first two rounds, but he's now alone in third after shooting a 67.
J.J. Henry and Jerry Kelly are tied for fourth at 15 under, while Nicholas Thompson leads three golfers at 14 under.
Summerhays had missed three straight cuts -- failing to shoot a round under 70 in those events -- before finishing ninth last week at the Greenbrier Classic.
He's been hot all week at TPC Deere Run, though, and Saturday marked the lowest round of his career.
Summerhays blew a two-shot lead during the final round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico last year and finished fifth, but he insists that he'll take an easygoing approach into Sunday.
"I know there's going to be obstacles and challenges, as there always are. There are always things that stand in your way. But I'm just excited to see what those are and deal with them," Summerhays said.

Hearn finished with three birdies in four holes to pull within two shots of Summerhays. After matching 66s, Hearn went two strokes lower to give himself a chance on Sunday.
Johnson had been remarkably consistent over his last six rounds at TPC Deere Run, but for the first time in a long time, Johnson found himself battling just to hang close to the leaders. He eagled No. 2 with a 60-foot putt to grab the lead outright but a bogey at the par-4 6th was his first here in 62 holes, and he picked up another one five holes later.
Still, Johnson likes his chances heading into the finale.
"I certainly think there were a lot more positives out there than negatives," Johnson said. "My putter has been great. Even the ones I've missed have been great."
No amateur has won on the PGA TOUR in 22 years but for about 15 minutes, unheralded Stanford amateur Patrick Rodgers was alone atop the leaderboard.
Rodgers was 7 under through 12 holes -- a stretch capped by a winding 57-foot birdie that put him a shot clear of the field -- and enters the finale at 12 under.
"Kind of got a mental hurdle off my back making my first cut in a professional event, so (Saturday) was pressure free. It was good. I could just go out there and make a ton of birdies," said Rodgers, a two-time All-American at Stanford.
Three-time tournament winner Steve Stricker (69) is eight shots back of Summerhays. He'll need a tremendous final round and some serious help to claim his fourth title in five years.
But the conditions are supposed to be great again on Sunday, giving Stricker and a lot of other golfers at least some hope of catching Summerhays.
"I'll just have to come out and do the best that I can, and like I say, put up a low number. And they're out here. The low number is out here," Stricker said.

THIRD-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 213 (3x71)
players from USA unless stated
194 Daniel Summerhays 65 67 62
196 David Hearn (Canada) 66 66 64
197 Zach Johnson 64 66 67
198 J J Henry 68 65 65, Jerry Kelly 68 64 66

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ENGLAND'S MEN ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE, SCOTLAND RUNNERS-UP

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF
England’s men are the kings of Europe once again. Having lost the title in 2011, they regained the crown by beating Scotland 4½– 2½ in the final at Silkeborg Ry Golfklub in Jutland, Denmark. 

The foundation was built in the morning when England won both foursomes thanks to Nail Raymond and Amateur champion Garrick Porteous, who beat James Ross and Ewan Scott 4 and 2, while Max Orrin and Nathan Kimsey overcame Graeme Robertson and Jack McDonald by the same margin.

But the singles proved a nail-biting affair. Robertson gained the Scots first point with a 1 hole win over Callum Shinkwin only for Porteous to restore England’s advantage with a 3 and 2 success over McDonald. When Bradley Neil got home by 2 holes over Toby Tree then score was 3-2.

It was left to Orrin to see England to the necessary fourth point but he had to bounce back from trailing to Scott Borrowman to force extra holes and won it on the 19th.

The other game between Scott and Kimsey was halved by mutual agreement as England was already assured of the title.

“It was a great performance,” said England Performance Director Nigel Edwards. “The lads stuck to the task when Scotland put us under pressure. Some great play coming down the closing holes.

“The morning foursomes were crucial it gave us the edge. Hats off to Scotland who played a truly great match and were true sportsmen of the highest order. That was a great final and it was a huge relief to win.

“The whole team played their part in the victory, contributing in so many ways. The players really appreciate all the support from England Golf, from the Board, the staff and everyone else involved.

“Graham Walker and Terry Casey galvanised a real team effort, not just this week but over the last few years.”

In the third place match, France beat the Netherlands 5-2.

For full scores visit the championship website.
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