Pettersson cooking at Fry's
Carl Pettersson played steady in the warm sunshine yesterday in contrast to the erratic play around him. The result was a one-stroke lead through three rounds of the Fry's Electronics Open in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Mark Hensby, playing in the same group, shared the lead until twice hitting into sand traps en route to a bogey on the par-4 18th.
With temperatures reaching the low 90s, Pettersson shot a 6-under 64, tied for the best round of the day, and was at 13-under 197.
"I played nice," Pettersson said. "I only missed two greens and didn't give myself any real opportunities to make bogeys."
Hensby, with a 68, fell into a tie with Mark Weir at 12-under 198. Weir, the 2003 Masters champion who beat Tiger Woods in the Presidents Cup three weeks ago, followed Friday's 64 with a 65.
"For the most part, I've put it on the smart side of the hole this week," Weir said. "That's what you have to do around here. The greens are very difficult, so you have to put it on the right spots."
Jarrod Lyle also shot a 64 and was tied with second-round leader Ryan Moore (71), two back at 10-under 200. Moore, who began the day with a three-stroke lead, struggled with his putting and had bogeys on two of the final three holes.
Justin Leonard, Ben Crane and Daisuke Maruyama were three back at 10-under 201.
Pettersson is playing his 29th tournament of the season and plans to participate in the remaining two Fall Series events. He entered the week 39th on the money list with $1.79 million in earnings.
"I'm still trying to get in the top 30," said Pettersson, who had Tour victories in 2005 and 2006.
Champions - Tom Kite moved into position for his first tour victory in his native Texas, shooting a 6-under 65 for a share of the second-round lead with Mark O'Meara in the AT&T Championship in San Antonio.
A longtime Austin resident, Kite is 0 for 119 in Texas on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.
O'Meara, the first-round leader after a 63, shot a 68 to match Kite at 11-under 131 on the Oak Hills Country Club course.
Mark James opened with a pair of birdies and led midway through the second round, but he bogeyed the final hole for a 66, leaving him a two strokes back at 9 under with tour newcomer John Cook (68).
LPGA - Suzann Pettersen bogeyed two of the final three holes yet still managed to shoot a par 72 to grab a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Hana Bank Championship in Gyeongju, South Korea.
Eun-Hee Ji had a 68 for the best round of the day, moving into second place with a 144 total. Seon Hwa Lee (71) and Jeong Jang (72) were another stroke back.
Meena Lee, who shared the first-round lead with Pettersen, struggled with a 77 and is tied for eighth place. US Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr had a 71 and is also at 146. Natalie Gulbis is another shot back. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa shot 75, six strokes off the pace.
"It was a really tough day for me out there, especially putting," Ochoa said. "For me, it was the toughest day on the season. I didn't feel very confident."
European - Daniel Vancsik held a one-stroke lead at the Portugal Masters after shooting a four-under 68 in the third round at Vilamoura.
The Argentine had four birdies on the back nine for a three-day total of 18-under 198. Charl Schwartzel (66) and Steve Webster (67) were one shot back.
Justin Rose finished with a 65 to sit seven shots back in his chase for the European Tour's Order of Merit. The Englishman will top the order with no worse than a second-place finish.
Nationwide - Ron Whittaker shot a 4-under 68 to hold a one-stroke lead over three competitors at the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Classic.
