Date: July 12, 2009
Author: PA Sport and Sportal

Stiles leads, Day still in touch

Darron Stiles has taken a three-stroke lead in the John Deere Classic as Australian rookie Jason Day moved into a tie for fifth place. But all the headlines on Saturday belong to Steve Stricker after a stunning second round. The 42-year-old tied the course record with a 10-under par 61 that catapulted him into second place behind Stiles. Starting on the back nine, Stricker made the turn at seven-under, highlighted by an eagle on the 17th. He made two more birdies before suffering a bogey on the third, the only blemish on his scorecard, but he rebounded with two more birdies on the final six holes. That put the efforts of Stiles in the shade as he carded a six-under 65 to break out of an overnight tie with Lee Janzen, who slipped back with a round of 70. Tim Petrovic carded a 67 and Jerry Kelly a 64 to move into a tie for third place at nine-under. Day had a three-under 68 to remain in contention at eight-under but has a mountain of work to do on the final day with 36 holes scheduled for Sunday. Kenny Perry and Aussies Peter Lonard and Matt Jones are at six-under, with Aaron Baddeley a further shot back. Meanwhile, Spain&aposs Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano produced what he called the best round of his life to take the third-round lead in the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. But much though he wants to win the 500,000 pound first prize on Sunday, there is something he wants more – his dog Petra to be found on the Costa del Sol. The three-year-old shar pei has been lost since Thursday night after being frightened by fireworks outside his mother-in-law&aposs home in Marbella. “We&aposve had her for three years since she was a puppy, and my wife was crying when I spoke to her on the phone,” said Fernandez-Castano, after a seven-under-par 64 lifted him into a one-stroke advantage over German Martin Kaymer and South African Retief Goosen. Asked if he would rather take his fifth European Tour title or be told the dog had been found the 28-year-old said: “Believe it or not, I am going to say find the dog – anything to see my wife happy.” He is prepared to offer a reward, but hastened to add: “Not tomorrow&aposs cheque, that&aposs for sure.” About to become a father for the first time in eight weeks&apos time, the Madrid golfer &aposonly&apos equalled the lowest round of his Tour career. But the British Masters champion stated: “That&aposs the best ever – I&aposve never struck the ball like that.” “Unfortunately my putting was not as good, but after a 64 I am not going to complain.” Kaymer is looking for back-to-back wins following his French Open play-off success over Lee Westwood last Sunday – and he did not drop a stroke either in a 66. Goosen had been two in front of Adam Scott overnight, but after a smooth start bogeyed the 10th and 13th. A 69 was still far better than the Australian managed, however. Scott, watched again by tennis star Ana Ivanovic, mixed five birdies with five bogeys and a double bogey at the 415-yard 12th to finish the round at seven-under overall. Marcus Fraser is the leading Aussie in the field at 10-under after a third-round 69, still four strokes behind Fernandez-Castano. Welshman Jamie Donaldson moved up to joint fourth with Dane Soren Kjeldsen on 11-under, three behind, after a 65 – and is in position to claim the one Open Championship spot on offer. John Deere Classic Round 2 -13: Darron Styles 64 65 -10: Steve Stricker 71 61 -9: Tim Petrovic 66 67, Jerry Kelly 69 64 -8: Ryan Palmer 70 64, Brandt Snedeker 67 67, Scott Verplank 70 64, Lee Janzen 64 70, Scott McCarron 68 66, Greg Owen 67 67, Kirk Triplett 67 67, JJ Henry 65 69, Jason Day (Australia) 66 68 -7: Frank Lickliter II 69 66, Matt Bettencourt 65 70, Richard S Johnson 67 68, Chad Campbell 68 67, Dean Wilson 65 70, Chris Stroud 67 68, Jimmy Walker 71 64 Also: -6: Peter Lonard (Australia) 67 69, Matt Jones (Australia) 68 68 -5: Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 68 69 -4: Marc Leishman (Australia) 68 70, Steve Elkington (Australia) 69 69 -3: John Senden (Australia) 70 69 -2: Greg Chalmers (Australia) 72 68, Danny Lee (New Zealand) 70 70 _1: Stephen Leaney (Australia) 72 69, Mark Hensby (Australia) 72 69 +2: Nathan Green (Australia) 70 74 +3: Steve Allan (Australia) 70 75 Third Round of the Scottish Open -14: Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano 65 70 64 -13: Retief Goosen 68 63 69, Martin Kaymer 69 65 66 -11: Jamie Donaldson 69 68 65, Soren Kjeldsen 67 68 67 -10: Marcus Fraser (Australia) 68 66 69, Lee Westwood 73 66 64 -9: Brian Gay 70 69 65, Martin Laird 65 70 69 -8: Ernie Els 69 69 67, Raphael Jacquelin 67 72 66, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 69 70 66 -7: Darren Clarke 69 69 68, Miguel Angel Jimenez 69 70 67, Rodney Pampling (Australia) 68 71 67, Adam Scott (Australia) 66 67 73, Richard Sterne 70 69 67, Nick Watney 67 68 71 -6: Ross Fisher 69 67 71, Jean-Francois Lucquin 70 71 66, David Lynn 70 72 65, Mads Vibe-Hastrup 69 67 71 Also: -4: Richard Green (Australia) 64 72 73, Peter O Malley (Australia) 74 66 69 -3: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70 68 72, Brett Rumford (Australia) 68 69 73 +3: Scott Strange (Australia) 70 72 74