Reprieve Works Fine for Overton

This was one mulligan Jay Overton couldn’t resist.

Given a reprieve by a rainout a day earlier, Overton shot a seven-under-par 65 on Saturday to take the first-round lead in the Senior PGA Tour’s Royal Caribbean Classic at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Overton was three over on the 18th hole Friday when rain shortened the tournament to 36 holes. His score didn’t count, and he capitalized with seven birdies Saturday.

“We caught a break,” said Overton, who said he and playing partner Dick Mast were “high-fiving” each other when they learned that Friday’s scores would be scrubbed. “This turned out to be a real fun round.”

Nineteen players are within three shots of the lead.

Overton, a club pro at Tampa, Fla., qualified for the tournament Monday. He led by one shot over Mast, Dana Quigley, two-time champion Bruce Fleischer, Bob Gilder and John Bland.

Overton played in seven tournaments last year as a rookie and finished 72nd on the money list.

Ernie Els shot a three-under 69 in the third round of the Heineken Classic for a 14-under 202 and a four-shot lead at Melbourne, Australia.

Australia’s Peter O’Malley, who shot a 70, is in second place.

Els had two bogeys and a few good saves for par in the first eight holes at Royal Melbourne.

“I didn’t start out great, but I made the turn quite well,” Els said. “I putted well and played a pretty solid back nine when the wind started blowing.”