SHIMA, Japan — Laura Davies was penalized two strokes for putting from the wrong place, a penalty that dropped the 44-year-old English star into a tie for the lead with Momoko Ueda in the Mizuno Classic.
The penalty led to a double bogey on the par-4 14th, and Davies settled for an even-par 72 and a tie with Ueda (67) at 7-under 137. American Reilley Rankin (72), Sweden’s Maria Hjorth (68) and Japan’s Mie Nakata (70) were one stroke back.
LPGA Tour vice president Doug Brecht explained the ruling on the putt, citing rule 20-7. He said Davies marked her ball and was then asked to move her mark because it was in a competitor’s line. He said Davies forgot to move her mark back and putted from the spot to which she had moved her mark.
Volvo Masters: At Sotogrande, Spain, England’s Justin Rose shot an even-par 71 to take a four-stroke lead over European Order of Merit rival Padraig Harrington and countryman Simon Dyson after the third round of the Volvo Masters.
Rose had a 4-under 209 total on the Valderrama course.
Harrington shot a 71, and Dyson had a 71.
Ernie Els tops the money list, $313,892 ahead of Harrington, but skipped the tournament to play in Singapore. Harrington, who won last year’s Order of Merit title at this event, leads Rose by $948.
Singapore Open: At Singapore, U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera shot a 1-under 70 to double his lead to four strokes after the third round of the Singapore Open.
Cabrera, from Argentina, had a 9-under 204 total.
American Jin Park (72) was second, England’s Lee Westwood (71) followed at 4 under, and two-time defending champion Adam Scott (73) was 3 under along with Vijay Singh. Phil Mickelson (73) was even par.
Nationwide Tour: At Lakeside, Calif., Richard Johnson birdied the final three holes for a 4-under 67 and a one-stroke lead over Tom Scherrer after the third round of the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship.
Johnson, at No. 6 on the money list already assured a 2008 PGA Tour card, had a 16-under 197 total on the Barona Creek Golf Club course.
“I’m surprised to be where I am,” Johnson said.
He had a quadruple-bogey 7 on No. 11 and bogeyed No. 12.
The top 25 on the money list after the tournament will earn PGA Tour cards, with Scherrer (67) fighting to move up from No. 27.
Kelly Grunewald (67), Jim McGovern (68) and first- and second-round leader Michael Letzig (73) were two strokes back at 14 under. Letzig began the week 26th on the money list, McGovern was 45th and Grunewald 55th.
Letzig three-putted from 3 feet on No. 18 for a triple bogey.
“I tried to tap it in three times,” Letzig said. “I’m not really sure what happened. The good thing is I’m not out of it.”
Grunewald needs a victory to advance to the PGA Tour.
“It was a bonus for me to be here this week,” Grunewald said. “Last week, I was looking at going to first or second stage of Q-school. I’m playing with a lot of confidence and that’s what you have to do out here.”
Johnson has been in the final group five times this season.
“I think someone is going to go low,” Johnson said. “I hope it’s me.”
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