Curtis takes 3-shot lead into final round

4/22/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ben Curtis hits his drive on the 12th hole during the third round of the Texas Open golf tournament, Saturday, in San Antonio.
Ben Curtis hits his drive on the 12th hole during the third round of the Texas Open golf tournament, Saturday, in San Antonio.

SAN ANTONIO -- Ben Curtis is still ahead at the Texas Open, leaving him just one round from his first PGA Tour victory since 2006 in what has been his most humbling year as a pro.

A pack of mostly non-winners could make redemption difficult.

Curtis finally made his first stumbles at the Texas Open -- once holding up a group playing six holes back when hacking the ball into the neighboring fairway was his only escape from under a tree -- but his 1-over 73 was enough to stay atop the leaderboard at 9 under Saturday.

Matt Every was grateful to end a long day in the same position where he started -- three strokes behind the former British Open champion. Every shot a 73 after waking early to finish his suspended second round, but it's his course-record 63 from Thursday that still has him in contention.

Mayakoba winner John Huh (67), Seung-Yui Noh (68), and Charlie Wi (71) were five strokes back at 4 under.

Aside from Huh, no one within five strokes of Curtis has won on the tour. Despite six years passing since his last victory, Curtis said he knows how to handle the final round: Simply worry about himself.

"In the past when I've played in these circumstances, that's what I did: I just focused on my game and if at the end of 18 holes it's good enough to win, great," Curtis said. "If not, I have to shake the guy's hand that won and move forward."

2 pairs share Legends lead

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- David Frost and Michael Allen birdied nine of the first 13 holes and combined for a 9-under 63 for a share of the second-round lead with Tom Purtzer and Brad Bryant in the Legends of Golf.

The teams were at 19-under 125 in the better-ball event. Bryant and Allen had 65 at The Club at Savannah Harbor.

The leaders in the 54-hole Champions Tour event were one shot ahead of four teams: Gil Morgan and Tom Kite (61); Bobby Clampett and Andy North (62); Jay Haas and Fred Couples (63); and Jeff Sluman and Brad Faxon (64).

Six other teams were at 17 under heading into the final round.

LPGA: Japan's Ai Miyazato won the LOTTE Championship for her eighth career title, birdieing three of the last six holes for a 2-under 70 and a four-stroke victory.

Miyazato finished at 12-under 276 at wind-swept Ko Olina. She opened with rounds of 71, 65, and 70 to take a three-stroke lead in the final round.

Miyazato won after finishing second behind top-ranked Yani Tseng this year in Thailand and Phoenix.

Tseng closed with a 74 to tie for 10th at 4 under.