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Colin Montgomerie leads at ACE Group Classic

Colin Montgomerie reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the ACE Group Classic on Friday.
(Corey Perrine / Associated Press)
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Colin Montgomerie overcame a double bogey to shoot his second straight 6-under 66, holding onto a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the ACE Group Classic at TwinEagles Golf Club in Naples, Fla., on Saturday.

Montgomerie birdied four of his last six holes and is 12-under 132 for the tournament. Lee Janzen also had a double bogey but shot a 7-under 65 and is one back at 11 under.

Esteban Toledo and Scott Dunlap are both at 8-under 128. Three other players are 7 under, including Bernhard Langer, who won five tournaments in 2014 as well as 18 top-10 finishes.

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Montgomerie birdied on Nos. 2, 3, 6 and 7 before faltering for a double bogey on No. 9. Janzen’s double bogey came on the seventh hole. He birdied his first three holes as well as Nos. 6, 9, 12, 13, 16 and 17. Paul Goydos, who won The Allianz Championship last week in Boca Raton, Fla., is at 5-under after a 70. Kirk Triplett, the 2014 ACE Group Classic victor, is at 4-under after a 72.

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Scott Hend of Australia surged into lead of the Thailand Classic on Saturday by shooting a six-under 66 in the third round despite a bogey on the last hole.

Hend used his powerful hitting to make five birdies and an eagle on the 13th before his only mishap on the 18th. His 15-under total of 201 put him one shot ahead of overnight leader Miguel Angel Jimenez and local favorite Thongchai Jaidee at the European Tour event.

Hend said “I played very solidly and putted quite well. I only made one mistake so it was pretty good. This is where you want to be, in the last group on a Sunday.

Jimenez had a bogey-free round of 69, while Thongchai carded 67.

The 51-year-old Jiminez said “I’m playing well and hitting it well. I missed a few putts (but) I’m creating lots of chances.”

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