The Korea Herald

소아쌤

Hurley extends lead to 2

By Korea Herald

Published : July 6, 2014 - 20:34

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Korea’s Yang Yong-eun tees off on the sixth hole at the Greenbrier Classic. ( AFP-Yonhap) Korea’s Yang Yong-eun tees off on the sixth hole at the Greenbrier Classic. ( AFP-Yonhap)
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (AP) ― Billy Hurley III doesn’t plan to lose much rest sitting on a third-round lead for the first time on the PGA Tour.

The former U.S. Navy officer shot a 3-under 67 on Saturday to extend his advantage to two strokes over Angel Cabrera entering the final round of the Greenbrier Classic.

“I’ve been working for a long time to win on the PGA Tour,” Hurley said. “I figure if I shoot the lowest score tomorrow, I can’t lose.”

Hurley never relinquished the lead he has held since midway through the second round at Old White TPC. He birdied the par-5 12th and par-4 13th before dropping a stroke on the par-3 15th.

He had a 12-under 198 total. No third-round leader has won the Greenbrier Classic, now in its fifth year. Playoffs have decided the tournament twice.

Cabrera shot 64. He’s looking for his first non-major win on the PGA Tour. Kevin Chappell was third at 9 under after a 69. Steve Stricker had a 68 to top the group at 8 under.

There will be more than a trophy to raise and a $1.2 million winner’s check available Sunday. The four best finishers not previously eligible for the British Open among the top 12 on the final leaderboard will earn spots in the July 17-20 tournament at Royal Liverpool.

Hurley finished his five-year Navy service in 2009 and would still be a naval officer if golf wasn’t keeping him busy. He returned to the PGA Tour this year after playing on the Web.com Tour in 2013.

He said nerves won’t play a part in how he gets ready for what could be a memorable Sunday.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said. “I just want to put my mind in position so that I can play well. I slept fine last night. The benefit of the Navy if you learn how to sleep anywhere. I think I’ll sleep fine tonight, too.”

Cabrera wore an Argentine blue shirt in the third round and is riding his country’s momentum in the World Cup, including Saturday’s 1-0 win over Belgium to advance to the semifinal round.

“I was very happy when I found out they won,” Cabrera said, adding that he was equally as giddy when he started his round with four birdies on the first six holes.

French Open

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) ― American Kevin Stadler shot a 1-over 72 in windy and rainy conditions to increase his French Open lead to four strokes.

Stadler, the Phoenix Open winner in February, had a 9-under 204 total on Le Golf National’s Albatross Course, the site of the 2018 Ryder Cup.

Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (69) and France’s Victor Riu (73) were tied for second. U.S. Open champion Martin Kaymer (70) was fourth, six strokes behind Stadler.

Nova Scotia Open

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) ― High wind from Tropical Storm Arthur forced Web.com Tour officials to postpone the third round of the Nova Scotia Open.

Environment Canada measured wind gusts topping 72 mph in Halifax.

The tour will try to complete 36 holes Sunday at Ashburn Golf Club. Canada’s Roger Sloan and Mexico’s Jose de Jesus Rodriguez shared the second-round lead at 10-under 132.