Sutton Gives Lowdown on Situation in Texas

Although he has a one-stroke lead, Hal Sutton knows he can’t relax with one round left in the PGA Tour’s Texas Open at San Antonio.

“We’ve got a pause in play, and I’ve temporarily got the lead,” Sutton said. “With everybody being close to the lead, it’s going to take a good low score out of me.”

Sutton birdied the final hole Saturday with a 10-foot putt to cap a five-under-par 67 and take his narrow lead over three others heading into the final round at LaCantera Golf Club.

Justin Leonard, a co-leader with John Maginnes entering play, was tied with Scott Gump and former Texas Open champion Jay Haas at 13-under 203.

Leonard recovered from a bogey on No. 12 to shoot a 69, and Haas shot a season-low 64 and Gump had a 65. Brad Fabel, who had a 70, and Mike Small, a 68, were two strokes behind Sutton.

The winner of the $1.7-million tournament receives $306,000. Sutton last won on the PGA Tour at the 1995 B.C. Open.

*

Graham Marsh birdied three of the final six holes in a five-under 67 and took a one-shot lead over Larry Nelson after two rounds of the Boone Valley Senior Classic at Augusta, Mo.

Walter Hall and Ed Dougherty each had a 66 and were two shots behind Marsh’s 10-under 134 total at the Valley Golf Club course.

First-round leader Gary McCord shot a 78 and was at 143.

*

Colin Montgomerie shook off several late charges and took a one-stroke lead after the third round of the $1.68-million German Masters at Cologne.

Montgomerie, trying to become the first person to lead Europe’s money list for six consecutive years, held off Ireland’s Padraig Harrington by firing a six-under 66.

Montgomerie, from Scotland, had a 54-hole total of 17-under 199. Harrington, with a 67, was a shot back in second.

*

Rachel Hetherington, who was atop a leaderboard for the first time in her LPGA career after the second round, had a two-under 70 to maintain her one-stroke lead at the First Union Betsy King Classic at Kutztown, Pa.

Beth Daniel, who started the third round one stroke behind Hetherington, kept pace with a 70 and her 10-under 206 total was two strokes ahead of defending champion Annika Sorenstam, Laura Davies, Se Ri Pak and Juli Inkster.