Simpson takes lead at Boeing Classic

UPDATE: Today's tee times for the final round of the Boeing Classic have been moved up two hours because of an approaching weather system.

SNOQUALMIE — Two weeks ago, Scott Simpson changed putters.

On Saturday, the new putter showed why it will be staying in his bag.

Simpson shot a 6-under 66 with only 24 putts and holds a two-stroke lead with one round remaining in the Boeing Classic at the TPC at Snoqualmie Ridge.

"I putted poorly at the U.S. Senior Open, and I changed," Simpson said.

On Saturday, he had six consecutive one-putt holes from No. 9 to No. 14 after missing a 2-footer on No. 8. One of his best putts was a 14-footer that saved par on the par-3 17th hole after he sank a 15-footer for birdie on the par-3 16th hole.

Simpson is at 11-under 133 after two rounds and has played bogey-free golf.

"It's great to get the putter rolling well," Simpson said. "That always helps. Obviously, it helps your score and it helps your psyche and everything."

David Edwards shot 5-under 67 Saturday and is in second at 135. Co-first-round leader Mark Wiebe (69) and Tom Kite (67) are tied for third at 136.

Kite describes Simpson, winner of the 1987 U.S. Open, as a "streak player."

"When he gets it going, he really plays well," said Kite, who is winless since capturing the Boeing Classic in 2006.

Simpson shot a course-record 61 in the second round of the Boeing Classic in 2006 when Kite won, but Simpson missed the playoff and finished tied for third.

Kite made a putting change himself in the past year. He now uses a "long putter" and said he was comfortable with it after one day. He said he wishes he had gone to it earlier.

Kite described his 67 as "one of those coulda-woulda rounds."

"I could have knocked 4-5 shots off the score that I had and it could have been really special. But's it's nice to be in the hunt," he said.

Simpson took command on the back nine, where he birdied four of the first five holes. His breakout snapped a seven-way tie for first place at the time.

"I probably didn't hit it as good as yesterday, but my putter really got hot," he said.

First-round co-leader Wiebe was in the seven-way tie then slipped two strokes behind Simpson but had a chance to tie with a 17-foot eagle putt on No. 4, the par-4 "Canyon Hole" where he bravely drove the green. He wound up three-putting by missing a 2-footer then missed a 4-½-foot birdie putt on No. 16. He birdied No. 18 to get back to 8-under.

Although temperatures reached 78 degrees, golfers were allowed to lift and clean balls on fairways because of 2 inches of rain earlier in the week. More rain is predicted today and tee times have been moved up two hours, with tee times starting at 9 a.m. and leaders teeing off at 11 a.m.

Simpson always walks rather than rides in a golf cart and will walk if it rains today. This is the first time in his 80 starts on the Champions Tour that Simpson has held the lead entering the final round.

Simpson, a USC grad and avid Trojans football fan who lives in San Diego, is one of the most easygoing members of the Champions Tour. He hasn't won on Tour for two years.

"I have no trouble living with the result winning or losing," he said.

Notes

• Saturday's announced attendance was 15,000.

• Tickets for today's final round are $20 for adults and $14 for anyone 61 or older or 13 and under. Boeing employees and retirees get in free.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com