Parnevik Leads Charge on Defenseless Course

Heron Bay’s best defender took the day off Saturday. Jesper Parnevik, along with the rest of the field, took advantage.

On a rare, windless day in Coral Springs, Fla., when the flags didn’t sway unless they were being taken out of the holes, the only significant movement at the Honda Classic was on the leaderboard.

Parnevik shot a six-under-par 66 in the third round to retain a three-shot lead at 18-under 198, breaking J.P. Hayes’ 54-hole tournament record of 200 set last year. Mark Calcavecchia (66) was 15 under, followed by Geoff Oglivy (65) and Dan Forsman (65) at 14 under.

“Three shots is not as big as it sounds,” Parnevik said.

Calcavecchia disagreed.

“It’s going to be tough running him down. . . . It just doesn’t happen these days unless you get on a super, super hard course. And we’re not on a super hard, hard course.

“He’s going to make some putts and probably play a good round of golf. So that extra couple of shots is big. One shot is nothing, but three--three could be a little tougher. But that certainly doesn’t mean I don’t think I have a chance. I’ll make him sweat a little.”

Through nine tournaments this season, six winners have come from behind on the final day.

Lee Janzen tied the course record with a 64 but was five strokes back, along with John Daly, who shot a 67.

“It was a completely different golf course today,” Oglivy said. “It was there for the taking.”

And nearly everyone did. Only two players, Stephen Ames and Gabriel Hjertstedt, were over par. Both shot 73.

Calcavecchia continued to make a rapid recovery from knee surgery two weeks ago. He needed 11 painkillers to get through the first round, but that number was down to seven Saturday.

Ty Tryon, a 16-year-old high school sophomore who became the second-youngest player to make the cut at a PGA Tour event, shot a 70 and was at six under heading into the final round.

“I just don’t want it to end,” Tryon said.

*

While there was no breeze in Florida, that wasn’t the case at the LPGA’s Welch’s-Circle K Championship stop in Tucson, where defending champion Annika Sorenstam took control.

Sorenstam, the defending champion, shot a five-under 67, enough for a record 54-hole total of 16-under 200 and a two-shot lead on Se Ri Pak, who also had a 67.

First- and second-round leader Jen Hanna wilted under the pressure of the hard greens, wind gusts to 32 mph and a pairing with Sorenstam, but managed two birdies on the back nine to shoot 72 and finish three shots off the lead.