Love, Couch Share the Lead

Davis Love III shot a four-under-par 68 in rainy, cool conditions Saturday on the course he redesigned to gain a share of the lead after the third round of the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro, N.C.

Chris Couch, who won his first PGA Tour title in New Orleans in April, had a 69 to match Love at 10-under 206 on the Forest Oaks Country Club course. Chris Smith (69), Steve Flesch (69) and John Senden (71) were a stroke back.

Love, who was in charge of changing and lengthening the layout in 2003 to 7,333 yards, had not used the knowledge to his advantage. He twice missed the cut and withdrew in the three tournaments held since the changes.

But Love, left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team, birdied the first two holes and the 18th Saturday to put himself into contention for his first PGA Tour win since 2003.

“I give myself a lot of chances, just unfortunately I haven’t pulled it off enough in the past few years,” Love said.

*

Kevin Na’s six-shot lead at the start of the third round of the Mark Christopher Charity Classic was down to one at the end of the day at Empire Lakes Golf Club in Rancho Cucamonga.

Na shot an even-par 71 and is at 14-under 199 in the Nationwide Tour event, one ahead of Jeff Quinney, who shot a 65. Deane Pappas (63), Ken Duke (64) and Grant Waite (66) are two shots back at 12-under 201.

Na made a double bogey on the par-four 12th hole and a bogey on the par-four 15th to open the door for the field.

“I got off to a good start,” said Na, who hit eight of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens. “Everything was going really well, but I hit one loose tee shot and unfortunately made a double bogey there. You can make bogeys, but you can’t make doubles. I lost my momentum at that point.”

*

Lorena Ochoa moved closer to her first LPGA Tour victory in her Mexican homeland, shooting a five-under 68 to maintain a three-stroke lead with one round left in the Corona Morelia Championship.

The 24-year-old star from Guadalajara, seeking her fourth victory of the season, had a 16-under 203 total. She stayed consistent, hitting straight drives and safe approaches that kept her out of trouble on the hilly Tres Marias course.

Paraguay’s Julieta Granada (66) was second at 13 under.

*

Tom Jenkins moved into contention for his seventh Champions Tour victory, shooting a six-under 66 in cool and misty conditions to take the lead into the final round of the SAS Championship at Cary, N.C.

Jenkins, 58, had a 10-under 134 total on the Prestonwood Country Club course, one stroke better than Champions Tour money leader Loren Roberts and tour newcomer Chip Beck.

“Warming up, it was miserable,” Jenkins said. “It must have been 45 on the practice tee. I didn’t think it was ever going to get warm.”

*

Bradley Dredge shot a one-under 71 at Kingsbarns to maintain his lead after the third round of the Dunhill Links championship in Scotland.

Padraig Harrington trails by one stroke after a 68 at Carnoustie despite strong wind.

Dredge, at 13-under 202 overall, said the conditions made it difficult to get the ball close to the hole.

“There are some big slopes on the greens, and then there was the wind,” said Dredge, who won the European Masters last month. “Throw all those factors together and it’s not easy.”