Americans lead narrowed at PGA Cup

LUSS, Scotland — English club pros Paul Wesselingh and Jeremy Robinson won two matches Saturday as Great Britain & Ireland cut into the Americans' lead in the PGA Cup heading into the final day of singles.

The United States still had a 9-7 lead in the PGA Cup, which is patterned after the Ryder Cup for club professionals.

Former club pro champion Scott Hebert of Traverse City, Mich., played all four team sessions with a loss. He joined with Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, to give the Americans their lone foursomes victory in the morning on The Carrick Course at Loch Lomond. Hebert and Sonny Skinner of Sylvester, Ga., won a fourballs match in the afternoon.

The PGA Cup concludes Sunday with 10 singles matches.

"I felt that we really had a chance of getting this back to being a game on Sunday, and that is what we've got," GB&I captain Gary Alliss said. "The PGA Cup means so much to them. They really want it back, but they also know that they are playing against really good players."

The Americans have a 15-5-3 lead in the PGA Cup, which began in 1973.

LPGA: At San Diego, all phases of Na Yeon Choi's game were clicking Saturday, and it showed in her third round at the Samsung World Championship.

The South Korean shot a career-best 9-under 63 to take a two-stroke lead over compatriot and second-round leader Jiyai Shin, who had a 68.

Choi finished at 15-under 201 to tie the tournament's three-round record that Annika Sorenstam set when she won here in 2002 and 2005. Choi was a stroke from tying the tournament's single-round low set by Grace Park in 2004.

Choi has never won on the LPGA Tour, but has eight top-10 finishes this year, including a tie for ninth at the U.S. Women's Open.

Only Ai Miyazato of Japan (68), Shin and Choi shot in 60s. No. 1-ranked Lorena Ochoa of Mexico shot a 72 and was tied for fourth place with Paula Creamer, seven strokes back.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: At Conover, N.C., Jay Haas and Nick Price shared the lead at the Greater Hickory Classic, and 31 players were within six strokes of the leaders going into the final round.

Haas, the 2005 winner, and Price are at 11-under 133 at Rock Barn Golf and Spa's Robert Trent Jones course. Haas shot a 1-under 71, while Price — a three-time major winner on the PGA Tour — vaulted into contention with a 67.

Gil Morgan (70), who trailed Haas by three strokes after Friday's opening round, slid into a tie for third at 135 with Andy Bean (68) and Russ Cochran (68). Joe Ozaki shared the day's best round, a 6-under 66, with Tom Purtzer, and joined a group of nine players tied for sixth at 136.

Also in that group were Charles Schwab Cup points leader Fred Funk (67), Bob Tway (67), Gene Jones (68), David Frost (68), Lonnie Nielsen (68), Mark McNulty (69), Hal Sutton (69) and Jeff Sluman (69).