Golf roundup
Young Aussie stays ahead of Els in Sony Open HONOLULU (AP) – Aaron Baddeley took three years to reach the PGA Tour. He looked like he was in a hurry Saturday to win his first event at the Sony Open.
The 21-year-old Aussie quickly built a five-stroke lead over a collection of world-class players and finished with a 5-under 65 to keep his distance over Ernie Els.
Baddeley, who won back-to-back Australian Open titles as a teenager, kept his cool when his swing deserted him down the stretch, making tough par saves on the 15th and 16th holes as the Big Easy was making a run.
Baddeley was at 15-under 195 and was two strokes clear of Els, who had a 66. Robert Gamez, who hasn’t won since his rookie season 12 years ago, had a 65 and joined Chris DiMarco (69) and Briny Baird (67) at 10-under 200.
Els is coming off an eight-stroke victory in the Mercedes Championships, where he set a PGA Tour record at 31-under par. He is trying to become the first player since Steve Jones in 1989 to win the first two tournaments of the year.
Dunhill Championship
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Lightning suspended play in the third round of the Dunhill Championship, with Wales’ Bradley Dredge and South Africa’s Bradford Vaughan sharing the lead.
Dredge and Vaughan were 13 under on the Houghton course.
Vaughan was 5 under for the round through 12 holes, while Dredge was 2 under through nine holes.
New Zealand Open
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Australia’s Chris Downes eagled the 17th hole for a 3-under 69 and a two-stroke lead after the third round of the New Zealand Open.
Downes had a 10-under 206 total. New Zealanders Mahal Pearce (69) and Gareth Paddison (70) were tied for second, and Michael Campbell (67) was three strokes back.
Panama Open
CORONADO, Panama – Former Clemson player Charles Warren III won the Panama Open, closing with a 1-under 71 for a one-stroke victory over fellow American Ken Duke.
Warren, who earned $40,000, had a 4-under 284 total on the Coronado Beach course.
Duke also finished with a 71.