SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Steven Bowditch opened a three-stroke lead Saturday in the Texas Open, while Phil Mickelson withdrew after 10 holes because of a pulled muscle in his right side.
Bowditch, the 30-year-old Australian seeking his first PGA Tour title, shot a 4-under 68 to reach 12 under at TPC San Antonio. He would get into the Masters with a victory.
Matt Kuchar and Andrew Loupe were tied for second. Kuchar shot 65, and Loupe had a 70.
Mickelson withdrew after pulling the muscle teeing off on No. 1 - his 10th hole of the round. He hopes to play next week in the Houston Open, the last event before the Masters.
Lefty was 1-over par in the round and 4 over overall he was taken off the course in a cart. His caddie, Jim Mackay, said Mickelson felt a twinge on his tee shot on No. 1.
It’s the second time this year Mickelson has withdrawn in the middle of a tournament. He pulled out at Torrey Pines after making the cut because of a back injury.
KIA CLASSIC
CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) - Cristie Kerr made a 55-foot par-saving putt after hitting her final approach into the water, giving her a share of the lead with Lizette Salas after the third round of the Kia Classic.
Kerr finished with a 2-under 70 to match Salas at 10-under 206 at Aviara. After dropping a stroke on the par-5 17th, Kerr holed out from the edge of the green on the par-4 18th after taking a penalty drop.
Salas, the former Southern California player from Azusa, had a 69. She birdied the par-5 17th for a share of the lead and matched Kerr with a par on the last
Kerr won the Kingsmill Championship last year for her 16th LPGA Tour title.
Dori Carter, the second-round leader after a course-record 64, had a 74 to drop into a tie for third at 8 under with Thailand winner Anna Nordqvist, Ayako Uehara and Shanshan Feng. Nordqvist and Uehara shot 67, and Feng had a 69. Third-ranked Stacy Lewis was 7 under after a 73.
EURASIA CUP
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Hideto Tanihara halved the final match with Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano to give Asia a 10-10 tie with Europe in the EurAsia Cup.
Trailing 7-3 going into the final day, Asia briefly took the lead at 9½-8½ before Joost Luiten beat Koumei Oda 1 up to pull the Europeans level.
Thongchai Jaidee, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Kim Hyung-sung, Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Siddikur Rahman also won matches for Asia. Miguel Angel Jimenez won the opening match for Europe, and Jamie Donaldson, halved with Prayad Marksaeng.
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