On the links Saturday’s professional golf results

ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS

ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND

Oliver Wilson of England closed in on a maiden European Tour title when he moved three strokes clear of the field in the third round of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Saturday.

Wilson, playing with an invite as he lost full playing rights on tour in 2011, shot a 7-under-par 65 on the Old Course at St. Andrews to tally 15-under 201.

On his tail at 12 under were four players: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (64), England’s Tommy Fleetwood (62), and the French pair of Raphael Jacquelin (69) and Alexander Levy (68).

Heavy overnight rain caused an hour’s delay to the start of play, and officials adopted the preferred lie rule, meaning Fleetwood’s and Louis Oosthuizen’s 10-under 62s weren’t counted as tying the Old Course record.

Before he lost his card, Wilson, a 2008 Ryder Cup player, was runner-up nine times on tour, including here in 2009. This is his 229th tour event.

“There is a long 18 holes still to go, so it will be a long day, but to win would mean a lot to me,” said Wilson, ranked 792.

McIlroy birdied five straight holes and made the turn on 30. But he hit into a bunker on the 16th, took two shots to get out and bogeyed the hole he eagled the day before. He finished with a 64, one off his best on the course.

Fellow Ryder Cup teammate Stephen Gallacher (69) at 9 under was five shots under the cut. But their other teammates Victor Dubuisson (75) at 1 under, and Martin Kaymer (71) at 1 over missed out.

REIGNWOOD CLASSIC

BEIJING

Stacy Lewis recovered from a slow start with four birdies on the back nine Saturday to take a share of the lead with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall heading into the final round of the LPGA Reignwood Classic.

The top-ranked Lewis started the day with a two-stroke lead over fellow American Brittany Lang, but fell back with three bogeys through the 11th hole. She then made three straight birdies from No. 13 before closing with a birdie on the 18th to regain a share of the lead with a 72.

Hedwall made five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 5-under 68. She will be aiming for her first career LPGA title on Sunday, while Lewis will be trying to win her fourth this year. Hedwall and Lewis were at 13-under 206 at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Associated Press