ON THE LINKS Saturday’s pro golf results

PRESIDENTS CUP

American within one match of victory

JERSEY CITY, N.J.

The Americans came within one match of winning the Presidents Cup — on Saturday.

Anirban Lahiri made two clutch birdies that only delayed the inevitable. This is a powerful U.S. team playing to its potential, and the result is the biggest blowout since these matches began in 1994.

Lahiri and Si Woo Kim delivered the only victory for the International team over two sessions, and the Americans poured it on. They had a 141/2- 31/2 lead, needing only one point Sunday to retain the cup.

Phil Mickelson set a record with his 25th victory.

WEB.COM TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Byrd soars into lead after three rounds

ATLANTIC BEACH, FLA.

Five-time PGA Tour winner Jonathan Byrd shot a 7-under 64 in rainy, windy conditions Saturday to take the third-round lead in the Web.com Tour Championship.

Needing a high finish to regain his PGA Tour card, Byrd had a 20-under 193 total at Atlantic Beach Country Club for a two-stroke lead over Sam Saunders in the last of four Web.com Tour Finals events.

Byrd finished 55th on the Web.com Tour’s regular-season money list and 170th in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings. He entered the week 66th in the race for 25 cards with $5,480.

Saunders, Arnold Palmer’s grandson, had a 70, two days after shooting a 59 on his home course. He was 129th in the FedEx Cup and began the week 24th with $27,900.

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN’S OPEN

Mozo keeps lead over Henderson, Lincicome

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

Spain’s Belen Mozo will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s New Zealand Women’s Open after a 1-under 71 helped her hold off challenges from Brooke Henderson of Canada and American Brittany Lincicome.

Mozo, who led by five strokes after the second round, had a three-round total of 15-under 201 on the newly-established Windross Farm course.

Henderson had a 67 to move into second place. The biggest mover on the day was Lincicome, who had a 66 to be tied for third, four strokes behind. Also four back was China’s Jing Yan, who shot 69.

Local favorite Lydia Ko shot 70 and was seven strokes behind Mozo.

BRITISH MASTERS

McIlroy’s 64 thrusts him into contention

NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, England

Rory McIlroy moved into contention at the British Masters by shooting a 6-under 64 in the third round, leaving the No. 6-ranked golfer two strokes off the lead held by Sweden’s Robert Karlsson.

Karlsson shot 67 and was one stroke clear of five players, including overnight leader Tyrrell Hatton, who bogeyed the last for a 71.

Hatton was one of only three players in the top 24 to fail to break par on a day of low scoring at Close House in northern England.

Associated Press