CORRECTION France Golf Evian Championship

Brooke Henderson watches a shot Saturday during the third round of the Evian Championship in France. Henderson maintained the lead with a 3-under 68. Laurent Cipriani/Associated Press

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Brooke Henderson stood over a birdie putt from 3 feet at the 18th green, a three-shot lead going into the final round of the Evian Championship seemingly at her mercy.

For the first time on Saturday – maybe all week, given her dominance at the fourth women’s major of the year – Henderson’s putting stroke let her down.

She missed it left, to gasps from spectators around the green at Evian Resort Golf Club. The Canadian couldn’t believe it. Probably those hoping to chase her down on Sunday, too.

Seeking her second major title after the Women’s PGA Championship in 2016, Henderson had to settle for a 3-under 68 and a two-shot lead at 17-under par – two off the 54-hole record for the tournament.

She is still in a position of strength after opening with two straight 64s. The closest challengers are a former No. 1 and a player breaking new personal ground at a major.

So Yeon Ryu, a two-time major winner from South Korea, shot 65 and was alone in second place. The top-ranked player in 2017 when she won the ANA Inspiration for her second major, she hasn’t been in contention this deep into one of women’s golf’s biggest five tournaments for three years.

Advertisement

Two strokes further back was Sophia Schubert, ranked No. 283 and without a top-50 finish in a major. The American birdied her last four holes for a 66 and was in third place in just her fifth appearance in a major.

Olympic champion Nelly Korda started the third round in second place, three strokes behind Henderson, but shot only an even-par 71 and was six strokes behind Henderson in a five-way tie for sixth.

Carlota Ciganda (67) and Sei Young Kim (68) were tied for fourth at 12 under.

PGA: Scott Piercy shot a 5-under 66 at rain-soaked TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota, to take a four-stroke lead into the final round of the 3M Open.

Piercy had an 18-under 195 total. He has four PGA Tour victories.

Emiliano Grillo was second after a 67 in a round that was delayed more than 6 1/2 hours. Tony Finau and Doug Ghim were tied for third, five strokes back. They each shot 65.

Advertisement

SENIOR BRITISH OPEN: Darren Clarke’s bid for a first senior major title wobbled as he lost his overnight two-shot lead and Paul Broadhurst pulled level at 9 under after the third round in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Clarke needed a birdie on the last hole to catch Broadhurst, who posted a 4-under 66 to Clarke’s 69.

Clarke dropped shots on the 12th and 13th holes but steadied himself to stay in contention for another trophy after winning the British Open’s Claret Jug in 2011.

“It would be pretty cool to have both of them sitting beside each other,” said Clarke. “I would love to win the Senior Open as well as the main Open.”

But Clarke and Broadhurst face a tough final round on Sunday, with New Zealand’s Steven Alker and American Jerry Kelly – both senior major champions – in a tie for third and only one behind at 8 under.

Four-time major champion Ernie Els and three-time major winner Padraig Harrington are three strokes off the pace at 6 under, along with Colin Montgomerie, Stuart Appleby and Thongchai Jaidee.

Advertisement

EUROPEAN TOUR: Julien Guerrier moved in sight of his first win on the European tour, shooting a 3-under 69 in the third round of the Cazoo Classic at Southport, England, to take a one-stroke lead.

Paul Waring, the No. 586-ranked leader after the first two rounds, shot only 72 and fell out of first place, replaced by Guerrier, a French player ranked No. 454.

Guerrier made three straight birdies from No. 4 and added more at Nos. 13 and 17. His only bogeys came on the first and last holes at Hillside near Liverpool in northwest England.

Richie Ramsay (67), Jens Dantorp (70) and Waring were tied for second place.

Copy the Story Link

Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.