Golf | Jerry Kelly leads by 3 in Zurich Classic

NEW ORLEANS — Jerry Kelly wants to have fun.

Of course, even in New Orleans where he loves the great food and hot music, walking off with his third PGA Tour victory and the $1.1 million payday the Zurich Classic would provide would certainly increase the fun factor.

"I'm going to try to have fun and see what happens," Kelly said after shooting a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 Saturday to boost his lead from one to three strokes. "That's the key to my success when I come to a place like this. I have fun outside the ropes and inside the ropes."

Kelly, the 42-year-old Wisconsin player who won his two PGA Tour titles in 2002, has previously held or shared a three-shot lead after 54 holes six times in his career. One of those leads has led to a victory — in the 2002 Sony Open.

"You know, I've got a swing that's not new, but it hasn't really been tested as much as I'd like to have it tested," said Kelly, who made two birdies on the front nine and one on the back. "That's because I haven't played well in the last few years."

His goal Saturday was to be comfortable, said Kelly, who withdrew from the Verizon Heritage last week because of the flu and a dislocated rib that caused severe back pain. "I'm not going to force shots."

When he got into trouble in the third round, Kelly said he "played smart." He credited that and an improved, but not perfect, swing with his spot at the top of the leaderboard.

Kelly had a 13-under 203 total at TPC Louisiana. He opened with rounds of 68 and 66.

Steve Marino moved to 11 under before a bogey on the par-5 18th dropped him to 10 under, still good enough to give him sole possession of second place.

Pettersen reduces

Ochoa's lead

MORELIA, Mexico — Defending champion Lorena Ochoa of Mexico shot a 4-under 69 in windy conditions to take a one-stroke lead over Suzann Pettersen of Norway into the final round of the LPGA Tour's Corona Championship.

Ochoa, who also won the 2006 tournament at Tres Marias, had a 20-under 199 total. After opening with consecutive bogey-free 65s, she had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in the third round.

Pettersen, three strokes off the lead entering the day, shot a 67. She eagled the par-5 eighth hole and had four birdies, but failed to convert a short birdie chance on No. 18.

Wendy Ward, who lives near Edwall, outside Spokane, shot a 66 and was tied for fourth place at 205.

Ex-Washington Huskies player Paige Mackenzie (76) of Yakima was tied for 68th place at 220.

Other tournaments

• Loren Roberts and Mark Wiebe had five birdies and an eagle on the final nine holes for a better-ball 61 and a one-stroke lead over John Cook and Joey Sindelar (63) in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, an event on the 50-and-older Champions Tour in Savannah, Ga.

Roberts and Wiebe were at 19-under 125 for 36 holes.

• Dutchman Robert-Jan Derksen shot a 3-over 75 in windy and cold conditions to take a two-stroke lead in the Ballantine's Championship in Jeju Island, South Korea.

Derksen had a 6-under 210 total.

South Korea's Kang Wook-soon (69) and Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee (71) were tied for second place.