Gustafson Takes Big Lead at Women’s British Open

Sophie Gustafson of Sweden shot a two-under-par 71 Saturday to stretch her lead to seven strokes after the third round of the Women’s British Open at Southport, England.

Gustafson had a 12-under 207 total on the Royal Birkdale course. Meg Mallon (71) and Scotland’s Kathryn Marshall (73) were tied for second at 214.

Australian star Karrie Webb was penalized two strokes for an infraction on the first hole. Her apparent birdie became a bogey, giving her a 72 and a four-under 215 total. She is in a six-way tie for fourth place instead of alone in second.

Webb took a drop from a sprinkler head and was informed after her round that it was an improper drop.

“I dropped it three inches away from where I was supposed to,” said Webb, who dropped her ball within a club’s length of where it lay behind the sprinkler head instead of at the nearest point of relief, as the local rule stated.

“If I had dropped it three inches closer on the blade of grass that was my relief point, I would have been all right,” she said.

But she did not object to the penalty.

“It’s the rules. Golf has some of the most ridiculous rules and this is just another one to add to the list,” she said.

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Doug Tewell shot a six-under 66 in the Novell Utah Showdown to share the second-round lead with Dana Quigley in the Senior PGA Tour event at Park City.

Tewell, who turned down an invitation to the PGA Championship, used an eagle at the par-five 17th, while Quigley, who shot a 68, birdied the par-four 18th to reach 11 under.

Gil Morgan was a stroke back after a 70.

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Vicki Fergon shot a six-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead in the inaugural Women’s Senior Golf Tour event at Green Bay, Wis.

Fergon, 44, had an eight-under 136 total at the ShopKo Great Lakes Classic. Dale Eggeling was second after a 68, and Marilyn Lovander was another stroke back at 138 after a 69.