KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Pat Perez turned in an 8-under 64 at the third round of the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic to open up a four-shot lead over closest rival Xander Schauffele.

The American, who led by a single stroke coming into Saturday, turned on the style on the back nine with six birdies, giving him nine for the day against just one bogey. After three rounds, Perez is on 21-under 195.

“These guys are so good and you can make so many birdies out there so fast and I know that,” said Perez. “So if I can get another six (birdies) tomorrow, I might be tough to catch.”

Schauffele remained within sight of his compatriot after a 5-under 67 – including an eagle on the 10th – while South Korea’s Sung Kanghoon is a further shot away after a 7-under 65.

Defending champion Justin Thomas’ chances appear over after he finished the day tied 24th at 6 under, despite posting his best round with a 69.

The American had a double bogey on the par-5 fifth hole but recovered with a flurry of birdies and an eagle on No. 16.

Clear skies at TPC Kuala Lumpur brought out the best from Whee Kim with a hole-in-one on the 199-yard, par-3 15th. The South Korean won a BMW hybrid vehicle.

“(I) landed perfect and thought ‘Oh made it, it’s going to go in,”’ Kim said.

INCHEON, Korea, Republic Of – Jin Young Ko fired a bogey-free 6-under 66 Saturday to take a two-shot lead after the third round of the KEB Hana Bank Championship.

The South Korean carded six birdies on the Ocean Course, including two in her last three holes, to post a 15-under total of 201. Compatriots Sung Hyun Park and In Gee Chun both shot 68 and are tied for second at 13-under 203.

“My iron shots today were really strong so I was able to make a lot of birdie chances for myself,” said Ko, a nine-time winner on the local KLPGA Tour.

Park, looking for her third LPGA Tour victory of the year, played solid golf for most of the third round with five birdies and a sole bogey in her first 17 holes. She did well to salvage par at the last after pushing her drive way right into a hazard and having to take a penalty drop.

“Overall, I’m quite pleased with my game today,” said Park, who has a mathematical chance of taking over at the top of the Rolex Rankings with a win on Sunday. “I finished 4 under on the front nine. I thought I would keep the momentum on the back nine, but my putting was a little bit off compared to the front nine.”

Lizette Salas of the United States offset a lone bogey with five birdies for a 68 and was in sole possession of fourth place.

Brooke Henderson moved into contention with a bogey-free 68 and is tied for eighth, five strokes off the lead.

Earlier this month, she stormed to a five-stroke victory at the MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open to claim her first LPGA title outside North America and now she will enter Sunday’s final round five strokes off the pace – although admittedly with a lot of work to do.

“That’s really exciting,” Henderson said after finishing at 10-under 206. “There are a few people that I would have to climb over, but if I could go out and shoot an under-par round, minus 6 or something like that, and put some pressure on the leaders and kind of be the leader in the clubhouse, that’s my goal. I would like to do that.”

As for the opportunity to win for the first time in Asia? “Yeah, that’s awesome,” she grinned. “I was really excited to get that win outside of North America a few weeks ago, and so to get one in Asia would be really cool, especially with all the fans that have been supporting us the past few days.”

Players couldn’t have dreamt up a more idyllic day than the one they were treated to Friday for the second round of the RBC PGA Scramble presented by the Lincoln Motor Company National Final.

Brilliant sun, warm sea breezes and classic Cape Breton hospitality enhanced the already incredible Cabot Cliffs experience.

“I’ve had a picture of the 16th hole as the background on my phone since the day we qualified and now that I’m here I can’t even believe it,” said Constantinos Anastassakis of the Ridge at Manitou team.

Not only did the squad from the Ridge at Manitou enjoy the scenery and experience of playing Canada’s No. 1-ranked golf course, they also enjoyed playing well in a national championship. The four amateurs and their PGA of Canada professional sit alone in third at 31.1-under-par.

Heading into tomorrow’s final round at Cabot Links, team Blue Springs is second at 31.6-under-par, with Cordova Bay leading the way at -33.2.

Click here for the full leaderboard.

Taking place Oct. 12-14 at the world-famous Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Inverness, N.S., this once-in-a-lifetime national final features 22 teams—comprised of four amateurs and one PGA of Canada professional—playing in a 54-hole Ambrose-style format.

Located in Inverness, N.S., Cabot Links is Canada’s first and only authentic links golf resort. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque town of Inverness, the Cabot Links course represents a dramatic departure from the typical golf excursion. With six holes playing directly alongside the water and every hole offers an ocean view, Cabot Links is where traditional links-land golf comes to life against the spectacular Nova Scotia landscape.

The Cabot Cliffs course, designed by the decorated team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is the newest addition to Cabot. Exquisitely carved out of the breathtaking Cape Breton landscape, with postcard-worthy panoramas vying for your attention and every hole calling out to the sea, it is links-land golf at its best.

Cabot Cliffs ranked No. 1, while Cabot Links ranked No. 4 on SCOREGolf’s 2016 Best Golf Courses in Canada list. Cabot Cliffs also debuted 19th on the World’s Top 100 Courses list by Golf Digest.

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company National Final has turned out to be a golf trip of a lifetime for participants and will thanks to the incredible golfing experiences, festival of special events, prizing, meals, activations and much more.

“We’re maybe not the best golfers, but it’s simply incredible to be here this week and have these experiences,” said the team from La Vallee du Richelieu. “We’ve had so much fun, we’ve had great caddies and hopefully one day we’ll be lucky enough to come back again.”

Those not playing in the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada presented by the Lincoln Motor Company National Final can still take part in all the action throughout the week at Cabot Links through social media. Watch on Facebook Live with multiple live streams—which include player interviews, behind-the-scene looks, drone flyovers, opening and closing ceremonies, and more. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram as well for great social content.

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by the Lincoln Motor Company saw thousands of golfers from across the country participate in the series of events this summer. The 22 teams participating at Cabot Links made it through local and regional qualifying events.

MONZA, Italy – Australia’s Marcus Fraser carded the lowest round of his European Tour career to take a share of the lead at the midway point of the Italian Open on Friday.

Fraser produced nine birdies – including five consecutive in the middle of his round – and no bogeys for a second-round 62 that took him to 13-under.

“To come and do that today, I’m pretty proud of myself and it’s quite reassuring that I still can play golf,” said Fraser, a three-time European Tour winner ranked a dismal 136th in the Race to Dubai.

“I felt like I’ve putted well and scrambled well this week,” Fraser added. “Today I took it to a new level with the putter.”

Open de Portugal winner Matt Wallace was also at 13-under following a bogey-free 65.

“I just played good golf out there today and it’s perfect weather for us to shoot low,” Wallace said.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Jamie Donaldson are each two strokes behind, while defending champion and home favourite Francesco Molinari was one stroke further back in fifth.

Donaldson had the shot of the day when he used his driver off the fairway on the ninth, his final hole, and hit to within 18 inches from 291 yards.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia and last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship winner Tyrrell Hatton were among five players tied for sixth four strokes back.

Having entered the Rolex Series, the tournament features an increased purse of $7 million this year as part of the buildup to the 2022 Ryder Cup outside Rome.

Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn was among those set to miss the projected cut of 2-under, a fate shared by the elder Molinari brother, Edoardo, Martin Kaymer, Oliver Fisher, Padraig Harrington and Danny Willett.

Canadian Austin Connelly fired a bogey-free 6-under 65 to jump into a five-way tie for sixth.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Pat Perez led by one stroke halfway through the CIMB Classic after carding a 7-under-par 65 around a four-hour delay for rain on Friday.

Fellow American golfer Xander Schauffele was on Perez’s tail after a long-range eagle on the third hole set up his 5-under 67.

Defending champion Justin Thomas had another poor round by his high standards, a 71. A three-peat on the TPC Kuala Lumpur where he clinched his maiden U.S. PGA Tour title in 2015 seems a tall order.

Two bogeys compounded by a double bogey on the 12th meant Thomas was 10 shots behind Perez, at 3 under for the tournament.

Perez, meanwhile, was hoping for more gusty winds and rain after making eight birdies, including four in a row. He’s at 13-under 131 overall.

“I don’t want sunshine at all. It’s too hot, way too hot,” Perez said. “I like it just the way it is right now, perfect. Cloudy, no wind.

“I didn’t think I really played that well. I got off to a slow start, I was 1 over through four. We had the break, and … I like the front (nine), I play better on the front.”

Kang Sunghoon of South Korea (68), Thomas Pieters of Germany (67) and overnight leader Cameron Smith of Australia (71) were tied for third, four shots off the pace at 9 under.

Tour rookie of the year Schauffele said he was comfortable.

“Everything’s kind of coming easy,” Schauffele said. “Today was one of those weird days where (I had) all the breaks. I had some squirrely tee shots and a couple of weird drops. But they all kind of went my way.”

Canadian Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., carded an eagle on the par-5 3rd hole en route to posting a bogey-free 5-under-par 67, lifting him into a tie for 8th place. Fellow countryman Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., also registered a 67 on Saturday to sit T55.

More unsettled weather is expected over the weekend.

LPGA Tour rookie Angel Yin once again overpowered the par-five holes on the Ocean Course with her prodigious hitting to charge two strokes clear after the second round of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on Friday.

On a sun-kissed day at SKY72 Golf & Resort, Yin fired a sizzling seven-under-par 65 to post an 11-under total of 133, the highlight of her round coming at the par-five fifth where she struck a 6-iron to 12 feet and coolly sank the eagle putt.

“That got everything started,” said Yin, who went on to record six birdies and one bogey as she rocketed to the top of the leaderboard. “I made a few pars in the beginning, but that eagle just fired everything up.

“The par-fives, I’m able to hit irons into them, which is very helpful. I can get closer. Like with my eagle, I hit a 6-iron in and ended up with a 12-foot putt. The last hole, the par-five 18th, I had a 4-iron in. Irons, you get more accuracy on them.”

Yin covered the four par-five holes in a blistering five-under to shoot the equal low round of the day, local favorite In Gee Chun having earlier carded a 65 to share second place with World No. 2 Sung Hyun Park (69) and Jin Young Ko (67).

In Gee, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour is still hunting her first victory of the season, having recorded five runner-up spots among her eight top-10s in 2017. However, she prefers to dwell on the positives of her near-misses rather than on the negatives.

“I’m quite proud of myself for maintaining the scores that I have been showing lately,” said In Gee, who along with Sung Hyun attracted the biggest galleries of the day on the Ocean Course. “And this event as well I’m kind of playing without any really negative thoughts. In that sense, I look forward to the weekend. Also I put a lot of meaning in this event, especially that I can have more fun with my fans.”

Canada’s Brooke Henderson rebounded in Friday’s second round with a 5-under-par 67 to climb into a tie for 13th place with Lexi Thompson. Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont., registered an even-par 72 to sit in a tie for 55th.

Not even cold gusty sea winds could stop teams from enjoying the awe-inspiring Cabot Links experience for the first round of the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company.

Twenty-two teams—comprised of four amateurs and one PGA of Canada professional—battled consistent cold, northerly 50 km/h winds on Thursday in Inverness, N.S.

“It was nice playing Cabot Links in the conditions it was probably designed to be played in,” said PGA of Canada professional Chris Barber from The Landings Golf Course in Kingston, Ont. “It was howling winds, cold and there was sea spray hitting you the whole way around—the place is great.”

Located in Inverness, N.S., Cabot Links is Canada’s first and only authentic links golf resort. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the picturesque town of Inverness, the Cabot Links course represents a dramatic departure from the typical golf excursion. With six holes playing directly alongside the water and every hole offers an ocean view, Cabot Links is where traditional links-land golf comes to life against the spectacular Nova Scotia landscape.

Barber’s team thru the first round sits alone in third at 12.3-under-par. The squad from The Ridge at Manitou leads the 54-hole national championship at 14.2-under-par, with the Cooke Municipal team in second at 13.5-under-par.

“The experience so far this week has been world-class,” The Ridge at Manitou team said. “Without the involvement of RBC and The Lincoln Motor Company, this is more than likely be a destination we’d probably never have a chance getting to play.”

For the full leaderboard click here.

The national championship continues Friday at Cabot Cliffs, with the final round taking place Saturday back at Cabot Links.

The Cabot Cliffs course, designed by the decorated team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is the newest addition to Cabot. Exquisitely carved out of the breathtaking Cape Breton landscape, with postcard-worthy panoramas vying for your attention and every hole calling out to the sea, it is links-land golf at its best.

Cabot Cliffs ranked No. 1, while Cabot Links ranked No. 4 on SCOREGolf’s 2016 Best Golf Courses in Canada list. Cabot Cliffs also debuted 19th on the World’s Top 100 Courses list by Golf Digest.

Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member and golf media personality Bob Weeks is on site this week to handle emcee duties at the opening ceremonies. Weeks will also moderate a special Q&A with Jared Du Toit on the opening night and act as the honorary starter during the second round at Cabot Cliffs.

In addition to the opening ceremonies, participants in the national final will be treated to two RBC dinners at the Panorama restaurant, as well as two receptions by The Lincoln Motor Company and a closing ceremonies event.

Those not playing in the RBC PGA Scramble of Canada presented by the Lincoln Motor Company National Final can still take part in all the action throughout the week at Cabot Links through social media. Watch on Facebook Live with multiple live streams—which include player interviews, behind-the-scene looks, drone flyovers, opening and closing ceremonies, and more. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram as well for great social content.

The RBC PGA Scramble presented by the Lincoln Motor Company saw thousands of golfers from across the country participate in the series of events this summer. The 22 teams participating at Cabot Links made it through local and regional qualifying events.

For more information about the RBC PGA Scramble presented by The Lincoln Motor Company, visit the website by clicking here.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Justin Thomas collected the Jack Nicklaus Award as the U.S. PGA Tour player of the year a couple of days before heading to Malaysia in a bid to win his third successive CIMB Classic.

Little wonder then the two-time defending champion was slightly off his game in the first round on Thursday, managing only a 2-under-par 70 to sit six strokes behind leader CameronSmith of Australia.

Smith opened with a blemish-free 8-under 64 and leads a U.S. PGA Tour event after the first round for the first time in 64 starts.

Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele and Poom Saksansin of Thailand were tied for second at 7 under.

Brendan Steele, coming off a victory last week at the Safeway Open, had an opening 67 to be three shots off the lead.

Thomas has barely had time to catch his breath after winning the FedEx Cup and playing in the Presidents Cup. He won his first tour title here two years ago. He successfully defended it last year, and has had a transformative 2017 in which he’s won five titles and his first major, the U.S. Open.

He’s aiming to be the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row since Steve Stricker at the John Deer Classic from 2009-11.

Schauffele, the U.S. tour rookie of the year, said he was taking plenty of notice of how Thomas approaches this course and is trying to keep it simple.

“The rough has been up apparently compared to last year, that’s what Justin told me,” he said. “I pretty much tried to copy everything that he did because I figured he’s a good guy to imitate out here.”

Thomas mixed five birdies with three bogeys. Schauffele and Poom made seven birdies to go into early contention, while Bradley eagled the 12th hole to make amends for his sole bogey.

Smith, an Australian, posted a blemish-free round of eight birdies, including five on the front nine for a 64.

“The putting was easy actually,” Smith said.

He’s chasing his second title of the year after winning the Zurich Classic in April.

The American trio of Kevin Na, Gary Woodland, and Pat Perez were also in contention in the Asian Tour event after carding 66s.

Hideki Matsuyama, the 2016 runner-up, faltered with two bogeys to sit with Thomas in a tie for 23rd place.

In keeping with the idea that the putter is the most personal club in a golfer’s bag, Master Putter Maker Scotty Cameron today introduced his new Custom Shop Creator – a state-of-the-art online putter customizer accessible through ScottyCameron.com.

The Custom Shop Creator (www.scottycameron.com/customshop​) allows golfers to virtually personalize their Scotty Cameron putters like never before, instantly bringing their ideas to life through realistic high-resolution image renderings. Golfers then send their putters to Scotty’s Custom Shop, housed at the Putter Studio in Southern California, where their customizations become a reality.

“I created the Custom Shop to give passionate players a way to preserve, personalize and protect their putters for life,” Cameron said. “The Custom Shop Creator really takes the creative process to another level. From your desktop or mobile device, you can easily experiment with custom stampings, sight lines, different weights and paintfill. You can change the finish from silver to black. It just gives you that feel of a Tour-like experience and creating a one-of-a-kind design.”

All putter models since 2014, plus many of Scotty’s most popular prior models, are available in the new customizer for photo-realistic customization. Owners of older putter models will be seamlessly linked to Scotty Cameron’s Classic Form, where an additional 100 putter models may be customized.

Since 2004, Scotty Cameron has offered personalization, customization, authentication and restoration services in the Custom Shop. From specialty grips, headcovers and authentic accessories to stamps, initials, engraved weights and full restoration of years old, game-worn Scotty Cameron putters, the Custom Shop has provided golfers with a resource to not only customize an already-purchased putter, but to also authenticate and refurbish these valuable clubs.

The new Custom Shop Creator introduces several new features:

• Realistic renderings display vibrant representations of custom stamps, initials, sight lines, weights, finishes and more – including accurate depictions of Scotty’s translucent and opaque paintfill colors – all in real-time as a user moves through the application.

• Responsive design adapts to mobile and desktop devices providing users the flexibility to enter a Custom Shop order from anywhere.

• Seamless workflow presents customization choices in an improved sequence more aligned with the way a customer would logically move through the process.

• Quick links to popular models allow users to easily search and choose from existing putter types to move immediately into the customization process.

• Save customizations feature – provides users with the option to create their custom putter at their own pace, saving within the application to finish later.

• New Custom Shop-only accessories – added to the Custom Shop include new stamps, as well as 12 new headcovers, shaft bands, 15 new paint-filled shaft rings and new grips.

Learn more at www.scottycameron.com/scottys-custom-shop