Mickelson, Watney tied for Wells Fargo lead

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney wound up tied for the lead Saturday in the Wells Fargo Championship at Charlotte, N.C., minus the separation from the rest of the field.

Mickelson hit a shot out-of-bounds on the 15th hole and hit another shot that struck a spectator in the head, costing him three shots over the last four holes at Quail Hollow in his round of 1-over 73. Watney hit a semi-shank with a 6-iron on the par-3 17th, took double bogey and had to settle for a 71.

It felt like a small consolation that they were tied at 8-under 208, one shot ahead of George McNeill, who had his share of trouble down the stretch for a 72.

Instead of pulling away from the pack, their mistakes in a wild final hour allowed a dozen players to get within three shots of the lead.

One of them was Rory McIlroy, who shot 73 and missed seven putts from the 5-foot range or closer, which was no way to celebrate his 24th birthday. McIlroy ranked 82nd out of the 83 players who made the 36-hole cut in the key putting statistic, yet he still goes into the final round with a good chance for his first win of the year.

Sauers is in front

Gene Sauers chipped in for birdie on the par-4 17th a day after making a double bogey on the hole, and finished with a 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead in the Champions Tour's Insperity Championship at The Woodlands, Texas.

Sauers hit into the water on the 17th hole Friday, but atoned for the mistake Saturday with a 25-yard chip.

The 50-year-old Sauers, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour who is making his 10th career start on the 50-and-over tour, had an 8-under 136 total at The Woodlands Country Club. First-round leader Mike Goodes was second after his second straight 69.

Kerr has LPGA lead

Two-time champion Cristie Kerr shot a 5-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over second-ranked Stacy Lewis and Suzann Pettersen after the third round of the LPGA Tour's Kingsmill Championship at Williamsburg, Va.

Kerr, the only two-time winner at the River Course, made six birdies to reach 10-under 203. She took command on a day when seven players shared the lead at one point or another.

Lewis shot a 69, and Pettersen, the 2007 champion, had a 68. Angela Stanford was three strokes back after a 70, and Ilhee Lee was fifth at 6 under after an all-over-the-place 69.

Ariya Jutanugarn, the 17-year-old Thai player who led after each of the first two rounds, had three bogeys and a birdie on her first four holes and fought a balky putter for a 73 that left her five shots back, where she was tied with Lizette Salas, whose bogey-free 65 was the best round of the day.