Mediate widens Senior PGA Championship lead
BENTONHARBOR, Mich.— RoccoMediate stretched his Senior PGA Championship lead to four strokes Friday atHarbor Shores, birdieing the final two holes for a 5-under 66.
The 53-year-old Mediate opened with a 62 on Thursday to tie the tournament and course records set by Kenny Perry in the 2012 final round on the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.
On Friday, Mediate started play on the 10th tee and birdied the par-4 16th and 18th. He added birdies on the par-5 fifth, par-4 eighth and par-5 ninth, leaving an eagle putt an inch short on the last, to reach 14-under 128. He has two PGA Tour Champions victories after winning six times on the PGA Tour.
Gene Sauers was second, closing with a bogey for a 69.
Bernhard Langer birdied three of his last four holes in a 64 to reach 9 under in his bid to become the first player to win all five senior majors. The 58-year-old German won the Regions Tradition last week in Alabama for his sixth senior major title and 100thworldwide victory. Two-time defending champion ColinMontgomerie (66) and club pro John DalCorobbo (68) also were 9 under.
John Daly missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 74.
Volvik Championship
ANNARBOR, Mich.— Ariya Jutanugarn remained in position for her third straight LPGA Tour victory, shooting a 4-under 68 to take a two-shot lead in the Volvik Championship.
Jutanugarn had four back-nine birdies, including No. 18 when her approach went off a hospitality suite and landed in a greenside bunker 20 yards from the hole. Her sand shot set her up for a short putt that pushed her to 11-under133 at Travis Pointe.
The 20-year-old Jutanugarn is coming off a win at the Kingsmill Championship after becoming the first Thai winner in tour history the previousweek in Alabama.
So Yeon Ryu (67), Marina Alex (67) and first-round leader Christina Kim (71) were tied for second. Jessica Korda (65), Giulia Molinaro (67) and Brittany Lincicome (67) were 7 under.
Top-ranked Lydia Ko was 2 under after her second straight 71. MichelleWie missed the cut with rounds of 76 and 76.
BMWPGA Championship
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Masters championDannyWillett had six birdies in a tournament-record 29 on the front nine at the BMW PGA Championship and shot a 4-under 68 for a share of the lead.
Australia’s Scott Hend eagled the final hole for a 69, and South Korea’s Y.E. Yang also had a 69 to match Willett at 10-under 134 at Wentworth in the European Tour’s flagship event.
South Africa’s Jaco van Zyl was a stroke back after a 68.
Willett’s approach shots were so precise that his successful birdie putts on Nos. 3-9 were from no more than 15 feet. The Englishman, who was among the morning starters, reached the turn holding a fiveshot leadon12underbutbogeyedfour holes in the back nine — including Nos. 15-17 — with birdies on the 14th and18th holes.
“I played great most of the day and then chucked a couple of horrid shots in there,” said Willett, whose group was put on the clock for slowplay.