HAMILTON, Ontario— Hidemichi Tanaka shot a 3-under 67 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over four players after three rounds of the Canadian Open.
Tanaka hit a 3-wood from 258 yards within 6 feet on the 550-yard 17th to set up as eagle. He also had six birdies and five bogeys to finish at 7-under 203 on the hilly Hamilton Golf and Country Club course.
Second-round leader Charles Howell III three-putted the 18th green for a bogey and an even-par 70, leaving him two strokes behind along with Tom Pernice Jr. (65), Brad Faxon (66) and Fred Funk (68). Bob Tway (66) was three strokes back, and Vijay Singh (65) matched Steve Allan (69) at 3 under.
Masters champion Mike Weir, attempting to become the first Canadian winner of this event since Pat Fletcher in 1954, shot a 70 to top an eight-player group at 2 under.
EUROPEAN MASTERS: At Crans-Sur-Sierre, Switzerland, Eduardo Romero shot a 4-under 67 and took a two-stroke lead over Ernie Els after three rounds of the European Masters. Romero, 49, is bidding to become the oldest winner in European tour history. Des Smyth of Ireland won the 2001 Madeira Island Open at 48.
Romero was at 13-under 200 while Els (68) was at 202 and defending champion Robert Karlsson (71) was at 203.
LPGA TOUR: At Tulsa, Okla., Karrie Webb shot a 1-under 69 and took a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the John Q. Hammons Classic. Webb, who has not won a tournament this year, was at 6-under 134 after 36 holes at the Tulsa Country Club. Christie Kerr, who also had a second-round 69, was alone in second.
Stacy Prammanasudh, playing in just her third LPGA tournament, and Donna Andrews were tied for third at 138 with three players another stroke back.
Defending champion Annika Sorenstam, playing for the first time in three weeks, had a 4-over 74.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: At Maineville, Ohio, Gil Morgan shot a 5-under 67 and increased his lead in the Kroger Classic to two strokes. Doug Tewell's 66 moved him into second place with a 36-hole total of 134, one stroke ahead of Graham Marsh (67) at the 7,064-yard TPC at River's Bend.
Eight players were within five shots of Morgan, who won the tournament in 1999. There has never been a two-time winner at the Kroger Classic, which started in 1990.