Ex-Husky Troy Kelly fires 62, moves into 2nd

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Webb Simpson likes the way he's avoiding bogeys and figures he'll need to play smart again at the Greenbrier Classic to get his second win in three tournaments.

The U.S. Open champion shot a 5-under 65 in the third round Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round. Simpson had his second straight bogey-free round to reach 14 under on The Greenbrier Resort's Old White TPC Course.

Troy Kelly, the former University of Washington star from Tacoma, was second after a 62. Kelly has not finished higher than 37th in a PGA Tour event, and is playing his second full season on the PGA Tour.

Kelly, 33, underwent hip-replacement surgery in September 2010 after being diagnosed with arthritis. While playing the mini-tour circuit several years ago, Kelly didn't know what was causing pain in his left hip. He played through it for two years but got to the point where he could barely walk, so he went to a doctor and surgery followed.

"For me to just play this game at a high level, I had to go get it done," Kelly said.

He starting playing golf again five months later, but it took up to a year before he felt his muscle strength was back to normal. He was 11th in winnings last year on the former Nationwide Tour and moved up to the PGA Tour.

The new hip hasn't made his golf game exponentially better. He has made seven cuts in 15 events this year.

Kelly has had longtime problems with his putter. Ranked 464th in the world, he entered the Greenbrier Classic 174th in putting on the PGA Tour.

On Saturday, Kelly made five birdies on the front nine and had three more on the back.

"I haven't made a lot of putts pretty much the whole year," Kelly said. "It's just good to see some putts go in. I had fun today."

One shot behind Kelly were rookie Charlie Beljan, J.B. Holmes and Ken Duke. Beljan had a 67, Holmes a 66 and Duke a 65.

Former Husky Richard H. Lee (69) was tied for 37th at 4 under.

Choi takes

Open lead

Na Yeon Choi had one of the best rounds in U.S. Women's Open history, taking control of the tournament with a 7-under 65 in the third round at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis.

The fifth-ranked South Korean star's remarkable round put her at 8 under for the tournament, giving her a six-stroke lead over Amy Yang. Only four players ever have posted a lower round in the Open.

Michelle Wie faded, shooting a 6-over 78 to fall to 2 over. Wie shot a 66 on Friday, putting her a stroke behind leader Suzann Pettersen. Pettersen also shot a 78 and slid to 1 over.

Jimin Kang, a graduate of King's High School in Shoreline, shot a 78 and is tied for 29th at 6 over. Former Husky Paige Mackenzie (83) was tied for 62nd.

Notes

• David Howell of England shot a 4-under 67 to share the lead with Anders Hansen of Denmark at 6-under after the third round of the French Open at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.

• Tom Kite shot a 3-under 69 at Pebble Beach for a share of the lead with Brad Bryant after the second round of the First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, Calif..

The 62-year-old Kite won the 1983 Bing Crosby National Pro-Am and 1992 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, the site of the final round Sunday in the Champions Tour event. Kirk Triplett (70), a graduate of Pullman High School, was tied for sixth at 4 under.

By The Associated Press