ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. — Webb Simpson, who is vying for the PGA Tour money title, shot a 1-under- par 69 on Saturday and is tied for third heading into the final round of the McGladrey Classic.
Simpson is also looking for a tour-leading third win of the year, which could make him the favorite for PGA Tour player of the year honors.
Michael Thompson had three early birdies and finished with a 67 to move into the lead, one shot better than second-round leader Billy Horschel, who shot a 70. Thompson had one of three bogey-free rounds on the day and is at 13-under 197.
• South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi took a one-stroke lead over Brittany Lang (69) at the LPGA Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, shooting a 4-under 67 to reach 12-under.
• Fred Couples birdied six of the first seven holes and finished with a course record 10-under 62 to take a seven-stroke lead at the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship in San Antonio.
• Rafael Cabrera-Bello of Spain shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura.
Murray, Ferrer gain final
SHANGHAI — Britain’s Andy Murray overpowered Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-0, setting up a Shanghai Masters final against David Ferrer and taking another step in his bid to pass Roger Federer and move into third in the world tennis rankings.
Ferrer, ranked No. 5, defeated fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-3.
• Petra Kvitova beat former No. 1 player Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at the Generali Ladies in Linz, Austria, to reach her sixth final of the season and first since winning Wimbledon.
Kvitova, a Czech who is ranked a career-high fourth, will play Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia for the title today. The seventh-seeded Cibulkova defeated Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-4, advancing to her first WTA final in more than three years.
Hornaday wins Trucks race
LAS VEGAS — Pole sitter Ron Hornaday Jr. waded through a crash-filled Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for his second straight victory and record 51st overall.
• Larry Dixon (top fuel), Cruz Pedregon (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (pro stock motorcycle) raced to the No. 1 qualifying positions at the NHRA Arizona Nationals in Chandler.
Hopkins fight has crazy ending
LOS ANGELES — Bernard Hopkins was stopped for the first time in his career in bizarre fashion, unable to continue after Chad Dawson lifted him and tossed him to the canvas late in the second round in Los Angeles.
Dawson (31-1, 18 KOs) claimed the WBC light heavyweight title from the 46-year-old Hopkins (52-6-3).
“It was not a foul,” referee Pat Russell said. “It’s a TKO. He could not continue because of an injury.”
Footnotes.
France advanced to the Rugby World Cup final in Auckland, New Zealand, with a 9-8 victory over Wales. In the other semifinal, Australia will face New Zealand today.
• Anaheim Ducks left wing Jason Blake will be out for three months with tendon damage in his left forearm caused by a severe cut.
The Associated Press
