RIDGEDALE, Mo. – Jeff Sluman and Fred Funk teamed to win the Champions Tour’s Legends of Golf on Sunday, and Jim Colbert and Jim Thorpe topped the Legends Division for players 65 and older.

Sluman and Funk finished with a 6-under 48 at Top of the Rock, the first par-3 course used in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, to beat Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen by a stroke.

The winners finished at 20-under 159. They opened with an 11-under 61 in better-ball play on the regulation Buffalo Ridge course and had a 50 on Saturday on the par-3 layout.

Haas and Jacobsen, the second-round leaders, finished with a 50.

Sluman and Funk had a 1-under 26 in the opening alternate-shot nine and closed with a 5-under 22 in the best-ball nine. Sluman also won last year, teaming with Brad Faxon in Savannah, Georgia.

In the nine-hole Legends finale, Colbert and Thorpe had a 4-under 27 in better-ball play for a three-stroke victory over Bruce Fleisher and Larry Nelson. Colbert and Thorpe finished at 11 under for 45 holes.

ATZENBRUGG, Austria – Mikael Lundberg ended a six-year title drought with a gutsy 40-foot putt in a playoff against Bernd Wiesberger to win the Lyoness Open on Sunday.

The Swede birdied the first playoff hole to deny Wiesberger a second victory at his home event after 2012. It was Lundberg’s third European Tour title after winning the Russian Open in 2005 and 2008.

“It feels fantastic, it was very nice. I made a fantastic putt,” said Lundberg, who was six strokes off the lead overnight. “I knew I was far behind and I even didn’t think I was going to win. I was just hoping to play well.”

Lundberg, who made three birdies in a row on his way to a 65, and Wiesberger, who shot 69, were tied at 12 under after the fourth round.

Defending champion Joost Luiten, who teed off the final day with a two-shot lead over Wiesberger, carded a par 72. The Dutchman finished third, one stroke off the lead.

“I didn’t play great,” Luiten said. “Nothing went my way, really … If you are two clear, you want to win, you want to finish it off. If you don’t do that, you are disappointed.”

England’s Lee Slattery, who was second after Friday’s play, scored 66 to finish another stroke back in fourth.

Lundberg topped the leaderboard for the first two days but looked to have squandered his chances with a 4-over 76 on Saturday.

“I felt a little bit more pressure going into the third round since I was leading,” Lundberg said. “Today was slightly better, not the long shots, but my short game was very good. That changed everything.”

Lundberg’s improved short game helped him overcome several disappointing seasons that left him wondering if he was ever going to win a title again.

Just weeks ago, he started working with coach Neil Jordan, and said he has been gaining confidence from the cooperation.

“I have been struggling,” said the 40-year-old Lundberg, who came through Q School for the last three years. “We started working on a few things. Not very different things, just basics … I worked a little bit more on my short game which is now starting to pay off.”

It was Lundberg’s second win in a playoff after the Russian Open in 2005 . With a victory, Wiesberger would have become the first Austrian to qualify for the U.S. Open. He can still make it but is now dependent on results from the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tennessee, later Sunday.

Wiesberger was loudly cheered through the sun-soaked day by a large home crowd. He soon overtook Luiten with birdies on the first and third hole and stayed ahead of the Dutchman almost throughout.

However, he lost a one-stroke lead over Lundberg with three holes to play.

“I had it in my hands,” Wiesberger said. “He had a great putt, he deserves it but I lost it a bit. I didn’t play great.”

Daniel Im of the United States carded the lowest score of the tournament with a 8-under 64 despite double-bogeying the par-4 fifth. Im had 10 birdies including five on the final six holes to finish 7 under for the tournament.

WATERLOO, Ontario– A week after losing the No. 1 ranking, Inbee Park found her putting touch.

Park won the Manulife Financial Classic on Sunday for her first LPGA Tour title in more than 11 months, matching the course record with a 10-under 61 for a three-stroke victory over Cristie Kerr.

“Definitely, the putter is definitely the key,” Park said. “I’ve been hitting the ball consistently all year, just my putter’s just not been wanting to do its job. This week, obviously, it did its job.”

Park finished at 23-under 261 at Grey Silo for her 10th tour title and first since the U.S. Women’s Open. Last week, Park’s 59-week run at No. 1 ended when Stacy Lewis won in New Jersey to take the top spot.

“I’ve got to say, definitely a little bit pressure off of me,” Park said. “At the same time, I think I needed a little bit of motivation. I just didn’t have any win after the U.S. Open. I was playing good but not great. So yeah, I think last week was a very good motivation and inspiration for me. So this week, I thought I needed to step it up a little bit.”

The 25-year-old South Korean player had only one bogey in 72 holes – on the fourth hole in the first round. On Sunday, she played the front nine in 5-under 31 and added birdies on Nos. 10, 12-14 and 18.

“I didn’t really think about the 59,” Park said. “All I thought about was just trying to bring that trophy home. I knew there was a lot of birdies and the way I played today everything seemed like it was trying to go in. Even if I didn’t make it, it was still close. It’s the first time I putted really well in a while, so I was really happy that my putter’s finally back.”

Park ended a 20-event tour winless streak. Last year, she swept the first three majors and finished the season with six victories. She also won a Ladies European Tour event three months ago in China.

After a week off, the tour will resume play June 19-22 with the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst.

“Obviously, with the U.S. Open in two weeks, I think is a great confidence boost,” Park said. “I think it’s great timing.”

Kerr finished with a 63.

“I never looked at the scoreboard until I came off 17, with a reachable par 5 to see where I was,” Kerr said. “I was three back and I was stunned because I was 7 under for the day. You’d think you’d be close.

“But it was great, a great week. I did great with my focus. I played great. I can’t complain.”

China’s Shanshan Feng, two strokes ahead of Park and Michelle Wie entering the round, had a 68 to finish third at 18 under.

Lydia Ko and Belen Mozo tied for fourth at 16 under. The 17-year-old Ko closed with a 66, and Mozo shot 65.

Lewis and Wie followed at 15 under. Lewis had a 63, and Wie shot 69.

“I just wanted to play well,” said Lewis, the winner last week in New Jersey. “I’ve kind of had some frustrating rounds all week so I just wanted to put together a good round. Still, even left a few out there today, but it’s just nice to see some putts go in kind of leading into the off week and into the Open.”

Hee Young Park also shot a 61 last year in her victory at Grey Silo. She tied for 10th Sunday at 13 under, closing with a 68.

The top placing Canadian was Sue kim, who carded 68 to close the tournament  tied for 35th.

Both Brooke Henderson and Alena Sharp had a top 50 finish Sunday shooting 68 and 71 respectively on the final day.

Team Canada’s Young Pro Squad member Jennifer Kirby was not far behind carding 70 to place her in the group tied for 55th and Nicole Vandermade shot 72 to place her in 77th.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Ben Crane estimates he slept less than three hours in a night spent praying and thanking God that his game finally has come back around.

Then he played 30 holes Sunday in winning the St. Jude Classic for his first PGA Tour title since 2011, setting off a celebration that included hugging his caddie and high-fiving a reporter. Crane also choked back some tears as he looked at text messages filling his phone.

“Oh my gosh, it just keeps going,” Crane said, looking at his phone. “How many can a phone hold? This is so much fun”

Crane closed with a 3-over 73 for a one-stroke victory, going wire to wire for his fifth career victory. Rain delays forced him into the marathon session Sunday at TPC Southwind, finishing 12 holes in the morning in a third-round 69 to take a three-shot lead into the final round.

He two-putted for bogey on the final hole to finish at 10-under 270, days after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open. That marked a low point for the 38-year-old player who spent the past six months reworking his swing to protect his back wondering if his career was over. He spent time with a coach picturing the right way to hit shots.

Everything clicked Thursday with an opening 63.

“I did not expect the hole to open up like that and just start making putts from everywhere,” Crane said. “Just hit a lot of quality shots and obviously built a nice lead to start out with.”

Troy Merritt was second after a 71. Webb Simpson (65), Matt Every (70) and Carl Pettersson (69) were 8 under, and Ian Poulter had a 64 to tie for sixth at 7 under.

Merritt credited the best finish of his career to an improved short game.

“Ben played great,” Merritt said. “Hats off to him. Well deserved. He’s been struggling for a little while. Very happy for Ben.”

Phil Mickelson, among those tuning up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, left winless in his 20th event since the British Open. He tied for 11th at 6 under after a 72.

Consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 put Mickelson at 8 under. But he bogeyed the next two, including the par-3 14th where he hit a 7-iron into the water in front of the green. He still finished much better than his tie for 49th at Memorial last week after an early visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation.

“The way I drove the ball last two rounds I had an opportunity to shoot really low,” Mickelson said. “My iron play was poor, and my putting was pathetic. I’ll have to make some changes and to get ready for next week. But the game is not far off because I’m driving the ball very well and putting it in play.”

Wind, thunderstorms, lightning and fog have delayed play each of the first three days. With more storms forecast, players started the final round almost immediately after concluding the third. They finished without single delay Sunday as the sun even came out as this tournament finished its 57th year without being shortened because of weather.

Crane had three bogeys in the final round, one more than he had through 54 holes. He became the first winner on tour without a birdie in his final round since Justin Leonard did it at Southwind in 2005.

He cruised along before two-putting for bogey on No. 6, dropping his lead to two strokes over Brian Harman and Merritt. Crane bogeyed No. 9 after hitting his tee shot into the rough. He couldn’t clear the rough with his next shot, and his third bounced to the rough behind the green.

Crane said he only glanced at the leaderboard a couple times.

“I just knew I was leading, and I knew Phil Mickelson was out there so,” Crane said. “And Phil’s a good friend, and he kind of gave me that, `I’m coming after you.'”

Merritt was the closest, within a stroke for six holes before putting his tee shot on the par-4 15th into the rough. He couldn’t roll the ball in from 15 feet to save par.

Crane strung together eight straight pars before going to the par-4 No. 18 with a two-stroke lead needing to avoid the water down the left side of the fairway. He did, though he did find the greenside bunker. Crane two-putted from 12 feet for the win. He earned $1,044,000.

Divots: Crane is the eighth player in this event’s history to win after having at least a share of the lead after every round. Lee Westwood was the last in 2010. … Crane also won the 2010 CIMB Classic before it became an official tour event.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Ben Crane estimates he slept less than three hours in a night spent praying and thanking God that his game finally has come back around.

Then he played 30 holes Sunday in winning the St. Jude Classic for his first PGA Tour title since 2011, setting off a celebration that included hugging his caddie and high-fiving a reporter. Crane also choked back some tears as he looked at text messages filling his phone.

“Oh my gosh, it just keeps going,” Crane said, looking at his phone. “How many can a phone hold? This is so much fun”

Crane closed with a 3-over 73 for a one-stroke victory, going wire to wire for his fifth career victory. Rain delays forced him into the marathon session Sunday at TPC Southwind, finishing 12 holes in the morning in a third-round 69 to take a three-shot lead into the final round.

He two-putted for bogey on the final hole to finish at 10-under 270, days after failing to qualify for the U.S. Open. That marked a low point for the 38-year-old player who spent the past six months reworking his swing to protect his back wondering if his career was over. He spent time with a coach picturing the right way to hit shots.

Everything clicked Thursday with an opening 63.

“I did not expect the hole to open up like that and just start making putts from everywhere,” Crane said. “Just hit a lot of quality shots and obviously built a nice lead to start out with.”

Troy Merritt was second after a 71. Webb Simpson (65), Matt Every (70) and Carl Pettersson (69) were 8 under, and Ian Poulter had a 64 to tie for sixth at 7 under.

Merritt credited the best finish of his career to an improved short game.

“Ben played great,” Merritt said. “Hats off to him. Well deserved. He’s been struggling for a little while. Very happy for Ben.”

Phil Mickelson, among those tuning up for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst, left winless in his 20th event since the British Open. He tied for 11th at 6 under after a 72.

Consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 put Mickelson at 8 under. But he bogeyed the next two, including the par-3 14th where he hit a 7-iron into the water in front of the green. He still finished much better than his tie for 49th at Memorial last week after an early visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation.

“The way I drove the ball last two rounds I had an opportunity to shoot really low,” Mickelson said. “My iron play was poor, and my putting was pathetic. I’ll have to make some changes and to get ready for next week. But the game is not far off because I’m driving the ball very well and putting it in play.”

Wind, thunderstorms, lightning and fog have delayed play each of the first three days. With more storms forecast, players started the final round almost immediately after concluding the third. They finished without single delay Sunday as the sun even came out as this tournament finished its 57th year without being shortened because of weather.

Crane had three bogeys in the final round, one more than he had through 54 holes. He became the first winner on tour without a birdie in his final round since Justin Leonard did it at Southwind in 2005.

He cruised along before two-putting for bogey on No. 6, dropping his lead to two strokes over Brian Harman and Merritt. Crane bogeyed No. 9 after hitting his tee shot into the rough. He couldn’t clear the rough with his next shot, and his third bounced to the rough behind the green.

Crane said he only glanced at the leaderboard a couple times.

“I just knew I was leading, and I knew Phil Mickelson was out there so,” Crane said. “And Phil’s a good friend, and he kind of gave me that, `I’m coming after you.'”

Merritt was the closest, within a stroke for six holes before putting his tee shot on the par-4 15th into the rough. He couldn’t roll the ball in from 15 feet to save par.

Crane strung together eight straight pars before going to the par-4 No. 18 with a two-stroke lead needing to avoid the water down the left side of the fairway. He did, though he did find the greenside bunker. Crane two-putted from 12 feet for the win. He earned $1,044,000.

Divots: Crane is the eighth player in this event’s history to win after having at least a share of the lead after every round. Lee Westwood was the last in 2010. … Crane also won the 2010 CIMB Classic before it became an official tour event.

WESTLAKE, Ohio – New Zealand’s Steven Alker won the Cleveland Open on Sunday in the longest playoff in Web.com Tour history, beating South Africa’s Dawie van der Walt with a birdie on the 11th extra hole.

Alker and van der Walt parred for first 10 holes in the playoff at Lakewood Country Club before Alker finally broke through with a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th.

“I finally had a right number,” the 42-year-old Alker said. “I had 172 yards and just hit a perfect 7-iron. … I had a lot of chances. I felt like I was inside of Dawie several times and had several chances to win. I got a little bit dizzy out there. At one point, and I can’t recall when, Dawie and I looked at each other and I said is `Is anybody going to win?'”

The 11-hole playoff broke the tour record of nine set it 1998 in Eric Booker’s victory over Notah Begay III in the Lehigh Valley Open, and matched in 2009 in Gary Christian’s win over Mathias Gronberg in the Northeast Pennsylvania Classic. It also matched the record for the longest playoff in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, set in the 1949 Motor City Open when Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum were declared co-winners because of darkness.

Alker bogeyed the final two holes of regulation for a 6-under 65, and van der Walt birdied the last two holes – holing a 20-footer on 18 – for a 66. They finished at 14-under 270 on the A.W. Tillinghast-designed course that opened in 1921.

“I didn’t think I had a chance after the bogey on 16 (in regulation),” van der Walt said. “I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I just played 11 holes and couldn’t make another birdie.”

Alker earned $108,000 to jump from 102nd to 12th on the money list with $125,180. He has four career victories on the tour.

“It’s very satisfying,” said Alker, who successfully qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday in California. “I won last year and then to come out and win again this year is really pleasing since I haven’t been in the habit of doing that.”

South Korea’s Si Woo Kim was a stroke back after a 65.

Jon Curran, Jason Gore, Jeff Curl and Ryan Armour tied for fourth at 11 under.

Adam Hadwin of Moose Jaw, Sask. clinched a top 10 finish shooting 72, 69, 66, and 67 throughout the tournament.

Team Canada Young Pro Squad members Mackenzie Hughes tied for 55th carding 73, 67, 70, 73 and team mate Albin Choi finished 62nd with 69, 72, 70, 74.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Ben Crane has waited so long to contend for another PGA Tour title that being patient through weather delays is no problem at all.

Staying atop the leaderboard into the third round helps.

Crane went more than 28 hours between competitive shots due to weather delays, and he was at 13 under with a four-stroke lead through six holes Saturday when another storm stopped play again at the St. Jude Classic.

“What an opportunity I have,” Crane said. “Certainly at the beginning of the week I never thought I would have been here, so I’ll just try to go home relax, get some food in me and sleep as fast as I can because we got to come back out at 7 a.m. and restart tomorrow.”

Troy Merritt, a group ahead of Crane, was at 9 under, with playing partner Peter Malnati at 8 under. Billy Horschel, Retief Goosen and Camilo Villegas were 7 under on their front nines.

Phil Mickelson, who hasn’t won in 19 straight events dating to the British Open, had pars on each of his first nine holes and was at 5 under. He’s one of many players using the event to tune up for the U.S. Open next week at Pinehurst.

Play stopped at 6:49 p.m. with officials hoping to have the leaders tee off for the final round by 9:10 a.m. Sunday, if they can avoid a fog delay like the one that delayed the start of play for an hour Saturday morning.

A storm Thursday forced 60 players to wrap up the first round Friday, and only 32 finished the second before two delays, the second for a thunderstorm that left water standing in fairways, bunkers and cart paths. The third round finally started at 3 p.m. with threesomes going off both tees. At least fans got to stick around all of Saturday afternoon after being sent home early the past two days.

Crane didn’t tee off until 4:50 p.m. Saturday after finishing up his second round at 12:18 p.m. Friday.

But this is Crane’s 300th career PGA Tour start, even though his last win was in 2011 at the McGladrey Classic. Crane said he can’t remember playing with a lead this late in a tournament it’s been so long.

He is putting well here this week, and he birdied his first hole to go to 13 under for the tournament as he rolled in a nearly 19-footer on the par-4 first. After hitting his approach into the rough behind the green on No. 2, Crane made a 12-footer to save par.

“Those are kind of critical putts right now, kind of keep the momentum going,” Crane said.

Merritt, who did not make a start on tour in 2012 or 2013 and missed his first six cuts this year, is the closest to Crane.

“Anything can happen on the final day when we’ve seen six-shot leads falter on the last day,” Merritt said. “If you can stay within a couple shots, that would be great. Anything can happen on Sunday on the PGA Tour.”

Mickelson tied for 49th last week in the Memorial following a visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation. He never teed off at all Friday with the horn blowing for the second time with him at the No. 1 tee.

He said he couldn’t hit his irons close enough or his putts in his second round. He started bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie, though he birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to get to 5 under. He rolled in a 16-footer to save par on the par-5 16th and wasn’t happy at missing a birdie opportunity with the pin at the front of the green.

“I had a chance to get up and down,” Mickelson said. “I think if I had birdied 16 I might have gotten one more with a little bit of momentum. … I’m certainly not that far back, but I do need to get off to a quick start. I got to get a good front nine here this third round and get off to a fast start.”

Divots: Local favorite John Daly was among 71 making the cut at even par. Defending champ Harris English missed the cut along with Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood and David Toms, a two-time champ here. … David Duval withdrew after seven holes in his second round. He was at 7 over for the tournament. He was the 10th to withdraw since this event started.

Canada’s David Hearn, Brad Fritsch, and Stephen Ames all missed the cut.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Ben Crane has waited so long to contend for another PGA Tour title that being patient through weather delays is no problem at all.

Staying atop the leaderboard into the third round helps.

Crane went more than 28 hours between competitive shots due to weather delays, and he was at 13 under with a four-stroke lead through six holes Saturday when another storm stopped play again at the St. Jude Classic.

“What an opportunity I have,” Crane said. “Certainly at the beginning of the week I never thought I would have been here, so I’ll just try to go home relax, get some food in me and sleep as fast as I can because we got to come back out at 7 a.m. and restart tomorrow.”

Troy Merritt, a group ahead of Crane, was at 9 under, with playing partner Peter Malnati at 8 under. Billy Horschel, Retief Goosen and Camilo Villegas were 7 under on their front nines.

Phil Mickelson, who hasn’t won in 19 straight events dating to the British Open, had pars on each of his first nine holes and was at 5 under. He’s one of many players using the event to tune up for the U.S. Open next week at Pinehurst.

Play stopped at 6:49 p.m. with officials hoping to have the leaders tee off for the final round by 9:10 a.m. Sunday, if they can avoid a fog delay like the one that delayed the start of play for an hour Saturday morning.

A storm Thursday forced 60 players to wrap up the first round Friday, and only 32 finished the second before two delays, the second for a thunderstorm that left water standing in fairways, bunkers and cart paths. The third round finally started at 3 p.m. with threesomes going off both tees. At least fans got to stick around all of Saturday afternoon after being sent home early the past two days.

Crane didn’t tee off until 4:50 p.m. Saturday after finishing up his second round at 12:18 p.m. Friday.

But this is Crane’s 300th career PGA Tour start, even though his last win was in 2011 at the McGladrey Classic. Crane said he can’t remember playing with a lead this late in a tournament it’s been so long.

He is putting well here this week, and he birdied his first hole to go to 13 under for the tournament as he rolled in a nearly 19-footer on the par-4 first. After hitting his approach into the rough behind the green on No. 2, Crane made a 12-footer to save par.

“Those are kind of critical putts right now, kind of keep the momentum going,” Crane said.

Merritt, who did not make a start on tour in 2012 or 2013 and missed his first six cuts this year, is the closest to Crane.

“Anything can happen on the final day when we’ve seen six-shot leads falter on the last day,” Merritt said. “If you can stay within a couple shots, that would be great. Anything can happen on Sunday on the PGA Tour.”

Mickelson tied for 49th last week in the Memorial following a visit from FBI agents and lingering questions about an insider-trading investigation. He never teed off at all Friday with the horn blowing for the second time with him at the No. 1 tee.

He said he couldn’t hit his irons close enough or his putts in his second round. He started bogey-birdie-bogey-birdie, though he birdied Nos. 14 and 15 to get to 5 under. He rolled in a 16-footer to save par on the par-5 16th and wasn’t happy at missing a birdie opportunity with the pin at the front of the green.

“I had a chance to get up and down,” Mickelson said. “I think if I had birdied 16 I might have gotten one more with a little bit of momentum. … I’m certainly not that far back, but I do need to get off to a quick start. I got to get a good front nine here this third round and get off to a fast start.”

Divots: Local favorite John Daly was among 71 making the cut at even par. Defending champ Harris English missed the cut along with Patrick Reed, Lee Westwood and David Toms, a two-time champ here. … David Duval withdrew after seven holes in his second round. He was at 7 over for the tournament. He was the 10th to withdraw since this event started.

Canada’s David Hearn, Brad Fritsch, and Stephen Ames all missed the cut.

Victoria, BC – Fargo, North Dakota’s Josh Persons shot a 3-under 67 at Uplands Golf Club on Saturday to take a two shot lead heading into the final round of the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist, the second event of PGA Tour Canada’s 2014 season.

The 30-year old former University of Minnesota Gopher will take his first 54-hole lead in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event since the 2012 Neediest Kids Championship on the Web.com Tour. Persons built a two-shot cushion over California’s Garrett Sapp, Washington’s Brock Mackenzie and New Mexico’s Tim Madigan.

“I look forward to it. I had so much fun today and I’m hoping to have some fun tomorrow. I can’t wait to get out,” said Persons of his outlook for Sunday’s final round. “I played pretty solid today. I gave myself some chances and stayed out of trouble.”

Persons began his day inauspiciously with a bogey on the second hole, but carded four birdies without a bogey the rest of the day to leap in front of overnight leader Mackenzie, who fell to a 1-over 71 on a day when Uplands Golf Club provided a tough test. Among players to make the cut, the field scoring average was 70.13 on Saturday compared to 67.80 on Friday and 68.84 on Thursday.

“It’s fun to play well, so that’s the good part, but this course will definitely test you. It was firm and there were some spots where you had to be real careful today,” said Persons. The second year PGA Tour Canada member admitted he would likely feel the pressure on Sunday, but that he would simply try to make the most of the situation and enjoy it.

“It’s where you want to be,” said Persons, who fell to a 77 when he led through 54 holes at the Web.com Tour’s Neediest Kids Championship. “Let’s have some fun tomorrow. In the past I’ve been very nervous and I’m sure I’ll be nervous again tomorrow, but like I said I’m looking forward to it.”

Persons will play in the final group alongside Sapp, whose 67 on Saturday vaulted him into a tie for second. Mackenzie, the 2010 champion at Uplands, will play alongside Madigan, who chipped in for birdie on the final hole for a 1-under 69.

Victoria, BC – Fargo, North Dakota’s Josh Persons shot a 3-under 67 at Uplands Golf Club on Saturday to take a two shot lead heading into the final round of the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist, the second event of PGA Tour Canada’s 2014 season.

The 30-year old former University of Minnesota Gopher will take his first 54-hole lead in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event since the 2012 Neediest Kids Championship on the Web.com Tour. Persons built a two-shot cushion over California’s Garrett Sapp, Washington’s Brock Mackenzie and New Mexico’s Tim Madigan.

“I look forward to it. I had so much fun today and I’m hoping to have some fun tomorrow. I can’t wait to get out,” said Persons of his outlook for Sunday’s final round. “I played pretty solid today. I gave myself some chances and stayed out of trouble.”

Persons began his day inauspiciously with a bogey on the second hole, but carded four birdies without a bogey the rest of the day to leap in front of overnight leader Mackenzie, who fell to a 1-over 71 on a day when Uplands Golf Club provided a tough test. Among players to make the cut, the field scoring average was 70.13 on Saturday compared to 67.80 on Friday and 68.84 on Thursday.

“It’s fun to play well, so that’s the good part, but this course will definitely test you. It was firm and there were some spots where you had to be real careful today,” said Persons. The second year PGA Tour Canada member admitted he would likely feel the pressure on Sunday, but that he would simply try to make the most of the situation and enjoy it.

“It’s where you want to be,” said Persons, who fell to a 77 when he led through 54 holes at the Web.com Tour’s Neediest Kids Championship. “Let’s have some fun tomorrow. In the past I’ve been very nervous and I’m sure I’ll be nervous again tomorrow, but like I said I’m looking forward to it.”

Persons will play in the final group alongside Sapp, whose 67 on Saturday vaulted him into a tie for second. Mackenzie, the 2010 champion at Uplands, will play alongside Madigan, who chipped in for birdie on the final hole for a 1-under 69.