Mickelson stands alone on top of PGA leaderboard

Published 5:00 am Sunday, May 25, 2008

FORT WORTH, Texas — The frustration was evident on Phil Mickelson’s face during a slow start in the third round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

Lefty was feeling a lot better — and still in the lead alone — when he finished the third round Saturday with a 17-foot birdie putt from the front edge.

“A nice way to finish the round,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson overcame an early bogey and some missed chances with seven birdies in his last 13 holes for a 5-under 65 that got him to 12-under 198. He led Rod Pampling (63) and Stephen Ames (64) by one stroke.

Pampling was on pace for a record-tying round at Colonial, the course near the Australian native’s Flower Mound home that he gets to play often. But he had consecutive bogeys at 16 and 17 before hitting his approach at No. 18 within a foot for a birdie that left him two strokes off the tournament record.

Ames started with three birdies in the first four holes and finished without a bogey.

Tim Clark (64) was alone in fourth, three strokes back. Ben Crane (67), Kevin Sutherland (68) and Brian Gay (69) were at 203.

This is the 27th time Mickelson will lead going into the final round of a tournament, and this time he will be going for his second plaid jacket at Colonial. He has gone on to win 19 times, including the Northern Trust Open in February, his only victory this season.

The last six Colonial champions led or were tied for the lead after 54 holes. The last time that didn’t happen was 2001, when then-defending champion Mickelson and Brett Quigley were tied going into the final round before Sergio Garcia won.

Brian Gay, whose only PGA victory came at the Mayakoba Golf Classic in February in his 293rd tournament, was leading at 10 under after his 16-foot putt at the 432-yard 7th was his fourth birdie of the round.

In other golf on Saturday: Two tied for LPGA lead

CORNING, N.Y. — Even with an arthritic right wrist that hampers her swing, Jeong Jang is a player to be reckoned with.

Jang, fresh from two straight top-3 finishes that moved her to fifth on the 2008 LPGA money list, shot a 3-under 69 to tie Erica Blasberg for the lead after three rounds at the Corning Classic. Playing with a bandage that conceals a painful cyst, Jang sank a 3-foot birdie putt on her final hole to tie Blasberg (70) at 7-under 209. Eagle helps put Langer on top

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Steady Bernhard Langer held off Jay Haas’ late run, which included a stunning eagle on Oak Hill Country Club’s No. 17, and took the lead after the third round of the Senior PGA Championship. Langer, the Champions Tour money leader, finished with an even-par 70 to put him at 2-over 212 for the tournament, a shot ahead of Haas and local favorite Jeff Sluman. Leader takes 4-stroke lead at BMW

VIRGINIA WATER, England — Robert Karlsson shot a 2-under 70 in windy conditions to take a four-stroke lead after the third round of the BMW PGA Championship. Karlsson was tied for second four shots behind Paul McGinley overnight, but finished the third round leading Miguel-Angel Jimenez (72) and Oliver Wilson (73) by four shots.