THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. (AP) - Graeme McDowell has done a lot right this year, except for win. He now has one last chance to fix that.
McDowell, back at the course that has provided two big moments for his career, opened with three straight birdies Friday and finished strong for a 6-under 66 to take a three-shot lead in the World Challenge.
Bo Van Pelt had to save bogey on the last hole for a 68, leaving him tied for second with Keegan Bradley and Jim Furyk, who each had a 69. Tournament host and defending champion Tiger Woods was tied for the lead at one point on the back nine but had to settle for a 69. He was four shots behind.
McDowell hasn’t won since this tournament in 2010.
NEDBANK GOLF CHALLENGE
SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) _ Scotland’s Paul Lawrie shot a 3-under 69 in the Nedbank Golf Challenge to take a one-stroke lead over Germany’s Martin Kaymer in the 12-man event.
Lawrie had a 4-under 140 total at Gary Player Country Club. Kaymer, Lawrie’s Ryder Cup teammate, shot 69.
South Africans Louis Oosthuizen (72) and Charl Schwartzel (71) were three strokes back along with Italy’s Francesco Molinari (71) and American Bill Haas (73).
England’s Lee Westwood, the two-time defending champion, was even par after a 73.
PGA TOUR QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) _ South Korea’s Meen Whee Kim shot a 5-under 67 on PGA West’s Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course to maintain a one-stroke lead after the third round of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament.
The 20-year-old Kim had an 18-under 131 total in the six-round event. The final top 25 and ties will receive 2013 PGA Tour cards and the next 50 and ties will earn Web.com Tour cards.
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson was second after a 65. The 11-time European Tour winner also played the Nicklaus course.
LPGA TOUR QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) _ Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn shot a 3-under 69 to open a six-stroke lead after the third round of the LPGA Tour qualifying tournament.
The 18-year-old Jutanugarn had a 13-under total at LPGA International. The final top 20 in the five-round event will earn full tour status.
Ayako Uehara was second, also after a 69. Two-time tour winner Christina Kim, tied for third entering the round, had a 75 to drop into a tie for 13th at 2 under.
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