Charlie Beljan beats health scare to hold lead in PGA Tour event
- From: AAP
- November 11, 2012
CHARLIE Beljan shook off an uncomfortable night in hospital, firing a one-under par 71 to stay at the top of the leaderboard in the US PGA event at Walt Disney World resort.
Beljan defied a doctor's recommendation, returning to the course at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, a day after an apparent panic attack had left him short of breath and caused his blood pressure to spike.
The 28-year-old rookie had even told his caddie on Friday that he feared his life was in jeopardy, but his round on Saturday was good enough for a 13-under total of 203 and a two-shot lead over South Korean Charlie Wi, Josh Teater and Brian Gay.
Wi carded a two-under 70, while Gay and Teater both signed for 67s on the Disney resort's Magnolia Course.
Beljan entered the tournament at 139th on the money list, with the top 125 at the end of the week due to retain full playing privileges on the US tour next season.
If he can pull off his first career victory, it would guarantee his tour card for the next two years.
Perhaps not surprisingly after his night in hospital, Beljan got off to a slow start with two bogeys in his first three holes.
He rebounded with four birdies before his only other bogey of the day, at the par-three 12th.
Beljan will still have plenty of work to do on Sunday, with 10 players within three shots.
A group of seven players on 206 included Sweden's Daniel Chopra, who shot 70 and Colombian Camilo Villegas, who also posted a 70.
Villegas came into the tournament ranked 150th on the money list and in danger of losing his card.
Park closes in on Lewis
In GUADALAJARA, Mexico, Inbee Park, seeking a third victory of the year and trying to catch Stacy Lewis in the LPGA Player of the Year race, seized a two-shot lead at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
South Korea's Park had six birdies - three on the front nine and three on the back - in her six-under 66 for a 54-hole total of 15-under par 201 at the Guadalajara Country Club.
She was two shots in front of American Cristie Kerr, who carded a 67 for 203. South Korea's So Yeon Ryu also posted a 67 for 204 and American Angela Stanford, who held a one-shot lead over Park going into the third round, posted a 72 for 205. Next came France's Karine Icher after a 69 for 207.
Lewis, ranked second in the world and coming off an LPGA-leading fourth title of the year in Japan last week, was tied for sixth on eight-under 208, alongside American Michelle Wie, Taiwan's Candie Kung and South Korean Hee Kyung Seo.
Lewis, who is trying to become the first US golfer to win the points-based Player of the Year award since Beth Daniel in 1994, carded a 71.
Park, who won the Evian Masters in France in July and the LPGA Malaysia last month and leads the LPGA Tour money list, would have to win this week and at next week's season finale to have a chance to pass Lewis for Player of the Year honours.