Glover stretches lead at New Orleans

AFP
Lucas Glover lines up a putt on the 15th hole at TPC Louisiana on April 27, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana

Lucas Glover lines up a putt on the 15th hole during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 27, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana. Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open champion, fired a two-under par 70 on Saturday to stretch his lead to two strokes after the third round of the $6.6 million US PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS - Lucas Glover, the 2009 US Open champion, fired a two-under par 70 on Saturday to stretch his lead to two strokes after the third round of the $6.6 million US PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Glover stood atop an all-American leaderboard on 14-under par 202 after 54 holes with Kyle Stanley, Jimmy Walker, Billy Horschel and D.A. Points on 204 and Kevin Stadler another stroke off the pace.

“My speed was a little off today,” Glover said. “I left a bunch of 8- and 10-footers short. I just didn’t have the speed right.”

Early starters fired low scores before afternoon winds began swirling, with Stanley shooting 65 and Walker and Horschel firing 66s while Glover played a roller-coaster round that included five birdies and three bogeys.

“The wind picked up more than was forecast,” Glover said. “It was good to see some good scores up there early.”

Glover, whose wife is expecting a baby in the next few days, birdied the par-5 second and answered a bogey at the fifth with birdies on the par-5 seventh and par-4 eighth.

On the back nine, Glover made bogeys on the par-3 14th and 17th holes but birdied the par-5 11th and 18th to stay on top.

“I knew there were some birdies there,” Glover said. “I just didn’t take advantage as much as I should have.”

Sweden’s Henrik Norlander fired a 65 to stand on 206 in a group that included Americans Ricky Barnes, Ken Looper and Boo Weekley.

Guan Tianlang of China hits his tee shot on the 3rd hole during the TPC Louisiana, April 27, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana

Guan Tianlang of China hits his tee shot on the third hole during the third round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on April 27, 2013 in Avondale, Louisiana. Guan struggled to a 77 on Saturday to stand on 218, last among the 71 who made the cut.

Chinese schoolboy Guan Tianlang, who became the youngest starter in Masters history earlier this month at age 14, struggled to a 77 on Saturday to stand on 218, last among the 71 who made the cut.

Guan made three birdies but also had five bogeys and a triple bogey.

“Today was not that good, but it’s still a great experience,” Guan said. “I didn’t have a good start and I tried to start back in the middle and made a couple birdies, but it was not a very good round.”

Guan plans to take a chance on qualifying for the year’s next major event, June’s US Open at Merion.

“I’m probably going to try the US Open qualifier and then go back to China after that,” he said.

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Edited by Staff Editor