Stadler Is Alone at Senior British Open

Former Masters champion Craig Stadler saved par on his final two holes for a three-under-par 68, leaving him the only player under par at the Senior British Open and giving him a two-shot lead over Greg Norman at Aberdeen, Scotland.

Stadler was at one-under 141 as he goes after his third Champions Tour major.

Norman, making his debut as a 50-year-old, fired away on a blustery afternoon at Royal Aberdeen. He finished off his 67 by muscling a nine-iron out of deep rough into 30 feet and holing the birdie putt on the 18th.

Des Smyth had a 72 and was four behind at three-over 145, followed by a group at 146 that included Tom Watson (71) and first-round leader Loren Roberts, who had a 74.

*

Ben Crane, whose slow play drew the ire of Rory Sabbatini at the Booz Allen Classic last month, didn’t want to have to return first thing this morning to play one hole at the U.S. Bank Championship at Milwaukee.

So, he ran between shots and conspired with playing partners Corey Pavin and Kenny Perry to make sure they completed their round before dark and didn’t have to set the alarm clock. Fifty-five players did not finish the second round.

“Given the fact I’ll probably have a late tee time tomorrow, it’s nice to get that extra sleep and not have to get up really early to come out here and hit one shot or something like that. I’ll sleep a little better tonight,” Crane said after shooting a five-under 65.

Crane leads at 13-under 127, two shots better than Scott Verplank and four better than Tommy Armour III and Chris Smith.

*

Paula Creamer shot a six-under 66, taking a seven-stroke lead over Karine Icher and Laura Davies after the third round of the Evian Masters in France.

Creamer, 18, was eight strokes ahead of Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 72, and 11 in front of Michelle Wie, who shot a 68.

Wie, 15, fired her new Irish caddie Brian Smallwood after the first round and her father, B.J., is now on her bag.

*

Kevin Tway won two close matches to advance to the final of the U.S. Junior Amateur against Bradley Johnson. Tway, the son of 1986 PGA champion Bob Tway, rallied from three holes down with four to play against Tim McKenney to win his quarterfinal match in the morning at Longmeadow, Mass. He won the afternoon semifinal over Amond Vongvanij by making a five-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.