Quinney keeps the heat on Mickelson
Phil Mickelson lost his cushion, but not the lead Saturday at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
Mickelson watched Jeff Quinney make a hole-in-one on the fabled sixth hole at Riviera that helped erased a 4-shot margin, but saved par on the 18th hole for a 1-under 70 to stay in the lead and move one step closer to adding this trophy to his West Coast collection.
Quinney made a 35-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 67 that set up what appears to be a two-man race in the final round.
Mickelson, whose 15 victories on the West Coast Swing have come in every city but Los Angeles, was at 11-under 202. He missed the green to the right on the final hole, chipped 7 feet by and saved par.
"I thought it was a good, solid round," Mickelson said. "It should be an interesting and tough day tomorrow."
Quinney delivered the best shot, and maybe the worst.
Along with his hole-in-one that he could hear, but not see, Quinney bladed a wedge over the green on the par-5 11th that led to a 2-shot swing in Mickelson's favor. Quinney then spent the rest of the gorgeous afternoon trying to catch up.
Mickelson also had a 1-shot lead last year going into the final round, losing in a playoff to Charles Howell. There were five players within 3 shots of the lead a year ago, but only Quinney, a former U.S. Amateur champion who has not won on the PGA Tour, appears to be in his way this time.
"He's going to bring a lot to the table," Quinney said. "I have to bring my best to the table."
Quinney's very much alive at 10-under 203, but hardly anyone else is.
John Rollins fell back with consecutive bogeys and had to settle for a 69 that left him at 6-under 207. Scott Verplank, who opened his round with a 4-putt from 30 feet on the fringe, shot 71 and was another shot back with Stuart Appleby (69) and Vaughn Taylor (71).
SBS Open: Annika Sorenstam won the season-opening SBS Open for her 70th LPGA Tour title and first since September 2006, birdieing 2 of the last 3 holes for a 3-under 69 and 2-stroke victory in Kahuka, Hawaii.
The 37-year-old Swedish star, coming off an injury-shortened season where she failed to win last year for the first time since her rookie season in 1994, finished with a 10-under 206 total. It also was her second straight win in Hawaii.
Rookie Russy Gulyanamitta (68), Laura Diaz (70) and Jane Park (70) tied for second.
Sorenstam waited 17 months to collect a T-shirt from her sister and a bottle of wine from a friend with No. 70 proudly displayed on them.
"It's probably dusty," she said. "I'm ready to collect it now."
Ace Group Classic: Tom Jenkins moved into position to become the 18th player 60 or older to win a Champions Tour event, shooting an 8-under 64 to take a 2-stroke lead over five players in The ACE Group Classic.
The 60-year-old Jenkins, 12 under after two rounds at Quail West, eagled the 527-yard, par-5 13th, hitting a 2-iron from 236 yards to 28 feet. He won the last of his seven career titles in the 2006 SAS Championship.