Funk keeps lead, by 1, at Tradition
Third-round 70 allows him to stay ahead of rookie
Fred Funk shot a 2-under 70 Saturday to hold onto the third-round lead at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Ala.
Funk, 60, has a 14-under 202 and maintains a onestroke edge over Scott Parel in the first of the PGA Tour Champions’ five majors. Defending champion Bernhard Langer, who shot a 66, and Scott McCarron (69) are two shots back.
Funk was even over the final nine holes at Greystone and is seeking his first PGA Tour Champions individual title since 2012. Langer is bidding to match Jack Nicklaus’ record of eight major victories on the 50-and-over circuit
“I’m used to Bernhard being on the top,” he said. “I’ve got to go out and I’ve got to take care of my business and wherever it ends up, it ends up. I can’t worry about it. If I worry about it, I won’t play well.”
Funk had a 67 and 65 heading into the weekend. He is 2 for 2 in winning after holding the 54-hole lead at PGA Tour Champions majors. He added two strokes for a three-shot win in the 2008 Regions Tradition and turned a one-shot advantage into a six-stroke victory at the 2009 U.S. Senior Open.
Each of the past five Regions Tradition winners have come into Sunday with the lead.
“I need to play like I did the first two rounds [Sunday], that’s for sure,” Funk said.
Players had a two-tee start early Saturday because of expected bad weather, and will do the same in the final round.
Parel gained entry after Fred Couples withdrew late last week and had a 70. He opened with three consecutive birdies, but dropped four strokes from holes 5-7, starting with a double. Parel rebounded from those troubles to start a four-birdie stretch on No. 9, followed by a bogey and a finishing string of pars.
“I kind of got a little bit miffed on [No. 5],” he said. “I didn’t realize where my ball was and making 7. I made plenty of birdies on the back nine, too, so I wasn’t too worried about it.”
Parel turned pro at 31 and went through PGA Champions Tour Qualifying School in 2016. He’s seeking to become the first Q-school medalist to win a 50-and-over major since Allen Doyle at the 1999 Senior PGA Championship.
Parel is making a strong impression on his fellow contenders.
“He’s a really good player,” McCarron said. “It’s like where’s he been for the last 30 years? He’s as good as I’ve seen in a long time.”
David Toms (66), two-time winner Tom Lehman (69) and Jeff Sluman (70) are 10 under.
Langer has been in the 60s all three rounds after staying in that range all four days last year.
He birdied the first three holes and four of five. He made a long birdie putt on No. 17, raising his arms in the air and pumping his fist.
Toms, a PGA Tour Champions rookie, had an eagle on the fifth hole and three birdies on the back nine.
John Daly shot a 76 and is 2 over.
Other tournaments
AT&T Byron Nelson: James Hahn shot a bogey-free 6-under 64 to take the lead after three rounds in Irving, Texas, where Jason Kokrak’s record advantage disappeared after a 72. Hahn settled for a 12-under 198 total after his eagle chance at the 16th and a birdie putt at 17 both stopped just inches short. He was a stroke ahead of Billy Horschel, who birdied his final three holes for a 66 to take second place alone. Kokrak, who set the 36-hole record with a five-stroke lead, fell into a tie for third.
Kingsmill Championship: Lexi Thompson remained in position for her first victory since a rules infraction cost her a major title, shooting a 2-under 69 to take a three-stroke lead over In Gee Chun (67) into the final round in Williamsburg, Va.