PGA Tour CHAMPIONS

PGA Tour CHAMPIONS

Flesch wins first title during 38-hole day

DULUTH, GA.

Steve Flesch needed 38 holes Saturday to win the Mitsubishi Electric Classic for his first PGA Tour Champions victory.

The 50-year-old Flesch birdied the second hole of a playoff with Scott Parel at TPC Sugarloaf in the event completed a day early because of forecast rain and lightning. Bernhard Langer dropped out on the first extra hole.

Parel bogeyed the par-5 18th on the second playoff hole after his approach hit the bank short and left and went into the water. Flesch hit long and right into the back bunker, and blasted out to 3 feet. The left-hander won in his 22nd start on the 50-and-over tour after winning four times on the PGA Tour.

Facing a forecast of 11/2 inches of rain overnight Sunday and the threat of lightning Sunday, tournament officials decided Friday to play both the second and third rounds Saturday.

PGA Tour

Ian Poulter in front at RBC Heritage

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.

The resurgent Ian Poulter shot a 4-under 67 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the RBC Heritage, putting him in position for his second victory in three weeks.

Before April, Poulter had not won on tour in more than five years. Now, he’s one more solid round away from adding another title to his dramatic win at the Houston Open on April 1.

Seven of the Englishman’s last 11 rounds have been in the 60s after having just three such showings in his first 20 rounds this season. His latest left him at 13-under 200, and a stroke ahead of Luke List (67).

EUROPEAN Tour

Dunne in the lead in Spanish Open

MADRID

Paul Dunne held onto a one-shot lead of the Spanish Open after shooting a 4-under 68 through the third round.

Dunne moved to 17 under overall after making five birdies, to go with one bogey, at the Centro Nacional de Golf.

Associated Press