Published October 14, 2012
Mallinger chases first PGA Tour win
John Mallinger remained in position for his first PGA Tour victory, shooting a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday in the Frys.com Open to take a two-stroke lead into the final round in San Martin, Calif. The 33-year-old Mallinger had a 15-under 198 total at CordeValle after opening with a 66 and matching the course record with a 62 on Friday. “I just didn’t have it all. I didn’t drive it as well as I did yesterday,” Mallinger said. “I think I hit every fairway yesterday, and then today I just got off to a weird start. But I hung around there and made some birdies on the back nine that got me back into position.” He has finished second twice in his seven-year career on the tour, losing a playoff to Bo Van Pelt in Milwaukee in 2009. Sweden’s Jonas Blixt was second after a 66. He birdied five of the last eight holes. ELSEWHERE Fred Funk shot his second straight bogey-free 6-under 66 took a one-shot lead over Larry Mize in the Champions Tour’s Greater Hickory Classic in Conover, N.C. … Defending champ Na Yeon Choi maintained a two-shot lead in the LPGA Malaysia, shooting a 3-under 68 in Kuala Lumpur. Inbee Park was second with a 202 total after a 65. … Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch and finished with a 6-under 65 for a 13-under 200 total and a one-stroke lead over England’s Ross Fisher in the Portugal Masters in Vilamoura. … Jim Woodward shot a 6-under 66 to match the course record at Creighton Farms in Aldie, Va., and take the lead in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.