Simpson Rolling Along in Vegas


After opening with a 7-under 64 and a 63, 36-hole leader Webb Simpson kept up his fine play in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old North Carolinian carded a 4-under 67 to maintain the four-shot lead he enjoyed before teeing off Saturday at the $6 million Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.

Simpson got off to a so-so start at TPC Summerlin with two birdies and a pair of bogeys through 11 holes. Then the Wake Forest grad got some momentum going with four birdies in the next five holes before parring the final two.

Simpson, who's at 19-under 194 heading into Sunday's final round, is seeking his first victory since the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Chesson Hadley is Simpson's closest pursuer. The 26-year-old Tour rookie - like Simpson a native Tarheel - also carded 67.

Jeff Overton is in third at 199 following a 68. Jason Bohn had a 69 and is in solo fourth at 200.

Sean O'Hair fired the low third round, an 8-under 63, to take a share of fifth at 201 with William McGirt (64), Ryo Ishikawa (68), Russell Knox (69) and first-round leader J.J. Henry, who after opening with a course-record-setting 60 has shot rounds of 71 and 70.

Also at 201 is defending champion Ryan Moore. The Puyallup, Wash., native and UNLV grad carded a 69.

Ishikawa, discussed along with Hideki Matsuyama in a recent Cybergolf article by Marino Parascenzo (see http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_news/hideki_not_ryo_could_be_golfs_next_big_japanese_import), gave some credit to his countryman from Japan.

"(Matsuyama) gives me lots of great energy," Ishikawa told PGATour.com. "He helps me a lot. He's a great player and a great guy. We talk a lot about golf and our games. It works very well."

Starting the third round four shots behind Simpson like Overton, Hadley, Henry and Bohn, John Senden had an even-par 71 to fall into a tie for 11th at 202 with Andrew Svoboda (67), Brendon Todd (67) and Daniel Summerhays (68).

After getting his maiden victory in last week's Frys.com Open, Jimmy Walker played well Saturday, posting a 64 that included a bogey on the par-4 second hole followed by eight birdies the rest of the way.

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