On the Links Saturday’s professional golf results

U.S. SENIOR OPEN

OMAHA, NEB.

Kenny Perry and Fred Funk made charges in the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday, each pulling within two shots of leader Michael Allen with one round to go.

Perry, going for a second straight win in a senior major, shot 6-under-par 64 to match Corey Pavin for the low round at Omaha Country Club. Funk shot 67 after making a long birdie putt on No. 18.

Allen, who had a 63 Friday, ballooned to a 2-over 72. He started the day with a 5-stroke advantage over Rocco Mediate. It was the largest lead after 36 holes in the tournament’s 34-year history.

Allen was at 8-under 202 for the tournament.

Pavin, who tied for second in last year’s tournament, was two shots behind Perry and Funk and four behind Allen.

Mediate faded with bogeys on four of five holes in the middle of his round and sat five shots off the lead after a 72.

Allen said Friday he had been playing through neck pain. He rubbed the right side of his neck Saturday as he walked up the 17th fairway. He saved par there, but he bogeyed the 18th to set the stage for a dramatic finish Sunday.

Allen still led by five after nine holes, but it was down to three after he bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11.

Perry, 10 shots behind Allen after the second round, had nines of 32-32 on Saturday. He started his push with an eagle on the par-5 sixth hole. He was the only golfer to birdie the 501-yard, par-4 10th. He drove into the rough but recovered with a pitching wedge to 20 feet.

Perry birdied the par-3 16th and the 297-yard, par-4 17th to get to six under for the tournament.

Funk, the 2009 winner, started his round seven shots off the lead. He birdied Nos. 2, 6 and 7 to get to six under.

He recovered from a double-bogey on No. 10 with birdies on three of the last five holes.

On the 18th, he seemed to surprise himself when his 35-foot birdie putt dropped. He turned to the gallery, lifted his left leg, raised his right fist and gave it a pump after the putt dropped.

The 6,700-yard course had surrendered just one sub-67 round before Saturday. There were five in the third round, and 27 golfers broke par.

MANULIFE FINANCIAL LPGA

WATERLOO, ONTARIO

South Korea’s Hee Young Park shot a career-low 61 to move into sole possession of the lead at Grey Silo Golf Course. Her 20-under 193 total left her one shot up on American Angela Stanford and two strokes ahead of Scotland’s Catriona Matthew.

With 21 players already in double digits at 10 under or better and course conditions likely to remain the same, expect a shootout on Sunday.

Park’s three-round score was the best 54-hole total on tour this year and it was just the 11th time a player has shot 61 in tour history. She almost went one better — nearly chipping in for eagle on the 18th before tapping in a short putt for her sixth birdie on the back nine alone.

Matthew (68) started the day with a three-shot lead on Stanford (64) but fell back with a double-bogey on the par-3 12th. She followed with a birdie and got another stroke back with a birdie on the final hole.

Meena Lee of South Korea was three shots off the lead after a 65, while Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist shot a 67 and was five shots off the pace.

South Korea’s Inbee Park remained in contention after a 68, good for a ninth-place tie at 13 under. Park has won her last three tournaments.

JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

SILVIS, ILL.

Daniel Summerhays shot a 9-under 62 on Saturday for a two-stroke lead following third-round play at the John Deere Classic.

Summerhays, whose previous best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for fourth, enters Sunday’s final round at 19-under 194 and in position for his first career win.

Summerhays notched 10 birdies while matching the lowest third-round score in tournament history.

Canadian David Hearn (64) is second at 17 under. Defending champion Zach Johnson held a share of the lead after each of the first two rounds, but he’s now alone in third after shooting a 67.

J.J. Henry and Jerry Kelly are tied for fourth at 15 under.

SCOTTISH OPEN

INVERNESS, SCOTLAND

Henrik Stenson held off a resurgent Phil Mickelson at the Scottish Open by shooting a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round.

Mickelson was in a group of four players in a tie for second after making six birdies in his last 11 holes for a 66 on Saturday. His performance has the American talking up his improving links game before next week’s British Open.

Branden Grace and first-round leader John Parry were tied with Mickelson after each shooting 66, along with J.B. Hansen (69).

Stenson has emerged from a prolonged slump and is showing the kind of consistent form that took the Swede to No. 4 in the world four years ago.

Associated Press