Sutherland up by Two in Mississippi


Kevin Sutherland followed up his opening 4-under 68 with a 67 to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic. The $1.6 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event started Friday at the Fallen Oak course in Biloxi.

Sutherland, a Sacramento native who shot a record-setting 59 in last year's Dick's Sporting Goods Open yet is still searching for his first title on the over-50 circuit, posted six birdies and a bogey to reach 9-under 135, two shots ahead of Tom Lehman (66) and three in front of Tom Pernice Jr. (69) and South Africa's David Frost (70).

Sutherland said the situation in Mississippi is quite different than his magical 59 in New York, where he closed with a 74 to finish T-7 and four strokes behind winner Bernhard Langer.

"This is very different, a different mentality," he told reporters. "When I shot the 59, it almost felt like I had won something already. There were all the congratulations, and the million texts and all that stuff and everybody wanted to talk about it, which is totally understandable. It was hard to come out the next day and be focused.

"As much as I wanted to be, I wasn't as focused as I needed to be. I don't think that will be a problem tomorrow. Whether I play well or not is a different subject, but I know I'll be ready to play. At Dick Sporting Goods (Open), I was still living off a hangover from the day before."

Four behind are Scott Dunlap (65), Olin Browne (68), Woody Austin (71), Joe Durant and Scotland's Colin Montgomerie. Both Durant and Montgomerie opened with first-round pacesetting 67s but each carded 72s Saturday.

Five behind Sutherland are Michael Allen (70), Billy Andrade (71) and Gene Sauers (72)

Fred Couples, who won the tournament in 2012, recorded a 70 to tie for 13th with Brad Faxon (73). One stroke further back are Scott Hoch (69) and Loren Roberts (73).

Defending champion Jeff Maggert posted a 70 and is tied for 17th at 143 with Mark O'Meara, Jose Coceres and John Huston.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.