Triplett Soars to Top of SAS Championship


Kirk Triplett fired a 9-under 63 to take over the lead in the SAS Championship. The $2.1 million, 54-hole Champions Tour event began Friday at Prestonwood Country Club in Cary, N.C.

The 52-year-old Triplett, a three-time winner on the over-50 circuit whose latest victory came in February's ACE Group Classic, carded seven birdies and an eagle, the latter coming on the par-4 18th when he holed out from 143 yards.

The native of Moses Lake, Wash., who now makes his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., opened with a 70 and now stands at 11-under 133, two shots ahead of Paul Goydos (67) and Tom Lehman (68).

One stroke further down the leaderboard are Fred Funk (64) and Guy Boros. Boros, a Champions Tour rookie and the son of golf legend Julius Boros, took the first-round lead with a 66 but carded a 70 Saturday.

Gary Koch (68), Kevin Sutherland (68) and Marco Dawson (70) share sixth at 137, while another stroke back are World Golf Hall of Fame member Bernhard Langer (65), South African David Frost (69) and Mark O'Meara (69).

Langer, a five-time winner on the Champions Tour this year and the 2012 SAS champion, is the runaway leader on the season's money list and in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup.

Defending champion Russ Cochran shot a 69 and heads into Sunday's final round at 4-under 140.

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