Els Able to Withstand Challenges

Ernie Els didn’t stand by while his competitors tried to make a move at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Australia.

Els shot an eight-under 64 Saturday to extend his lead to nine strokes through three rounds and all but wrap up his fourth victory of the year.

“I saw other guys making moves and felt I would play aggressively,” Els said. “It felt good on the range this morning. I had a nice start and obviously the eagle on three got things right on track.”

Els had a 23-under 193 total to break the European PGA tour’s 54-hole record of 194 set by Argentina’s Vicente Fernandez in the 1975 Benson & Hedges Festival.

The South African star also shot a 64 Thursday and had a 65 Friday. He birdied the first hole Saturday and eagled the third, his third eagle of the week. He finished with seven birdies and a bogey on the par-five 15th, the hole he eagled the first two days.

South Africa’s Craig Kamps (64) and France’s Jean-Francois Remesy (67) shared second place. Retief Goosen, the defending champion, shot a 66 to join New Zealand’s David Smail (64) and Australians Andre Stolz (67) and Stephen Leaney (68) at 13 under.

Australia’s Craig Spence had eight birdies in a row to match the European tour record and finished with a 63 to tie the course record. The 1999 Australian Masters winner, 11 strokes back at 12 under, started the birdie run on the fourth hole.

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Dave Barr shot a seven-under 65 in the ACE Group Classic to take a one-shot lead over Jay Overton and first-round leader Vicente Fernandez through two rounds at The Club at TwinEagles in Naples, Fla.

Barr, who is at 11-under 133, uses a 1971 putter given to him in college and plays with a 10-finger grip. He has an old set of irons that include a three-iron and a five-iron from 1985. He’s self-taught and said he has had one lesson, and it was a putting one.

“They always say, ‘Why don’t you go to the modern technology and improve your game?’ ” Barr said of other players. “If it’s working, why switch?”

Overton, who won a playoff in a qualifier for one of three spots in the Champions Tour event, tied the tournament record with a bogey-free, nine-under 63.

Fernandez followed up his 66 with a four-under 68. Rodger Davis and Jim Thorpe are two shots behind.

Tom Watson and Mike McCullough are three back.