Allenby Makes His Move at Houston Open

Robert Allenby made a move Saturday to keep the Houston Open title in Australia.

Allenby, who started the third round in a three-way tie for the lead, shot a four-under-par 68 that included a scare on No. 17 and held a one-shot lead in the $2.8-million Houston Open at The Woodlands, Texas.

Allenby, trying to match countryman Stuart Appleby’s victory last year, had a 54-hole total of 13-under 203 and the slim lead over Craig Stadler, who shot a 69.

“We just like it here,� Allenby said. “The courses we play in Australia are similar and there is great weather here. We just enjoy playing here.�

Scott Hoch played among the contenders all day but bogeyed the final hole for a 70 and dropped into a tie for third with Fred Funk, who shot a 69.

Allenby started the day sharing the lead with Loren Roberts and Stadler at nine under. Roberts shot a third-round 72 and dropped into a group of six at 207.

Allenby had birdies on Nos. 1 and 6 on the front and added two more at 13 and 15 to take the lead at 13 under. On No. 17, he barely avoided the water beside the green, then nearly chipped in for a birdie.

Stadler birdied his first hole of the day and played solid golf the rest of the way. He bogeyed No. 9 but got himself in contention with birdies at 15 and 17.

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Sophie Gustafson is letting her game do the talking at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship at Stockbridge, Ga., maintaining a two-shot lead over Michelle McGann and Laura Davies after the second round as she closes in on her first LPGA Tour victory.

Gustafson, a 26-year-old Swede, shot a three-under 69 at Eagles Landing Country Club, pushing her total to 10-under 134.

Moving within three shots of the lead was the biggest name in women’s golf, Karrie Webb, who is seeking her fifth victory in six tournaments this year. Webb finished with an eagle at No. 18.

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Dana Quigley, whose final-round rally fell one stroke short last year, made his move a day earlier at the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Birmingham, Ala.

Quigley had eight birdies in a six-under 66 and took a one-stroke lead over Gil Morgan and George Archer. Last year, he shot a final-round 66 before losing to Larry Nelson.

Morgan birdied four holes on the back nine in his 67, while Archer had five birdies and no bogeys in his.