CHARLOTTE, N. Carolina: American Jonathan Byrd flew by compatriot Pat Perez with a blistering back nine to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday's third round of the Quail Hollow Championship on an emotional day in the wake of the Seve Ballesteros's death. Byrd, a local favorite who attended nearby Clemson University, birdied five of six holes after making the turn on his way to a five-under-par 67 for a total of 15-under 201 going into Sunday's final round when he will aim for his sixth US Tour title. Overnight leader Perez led by two shots before a bogey at the par-four 12th where he chipped well past the hole from the back fringe and was overtaken by the Byrd's surge. Perez posted 70 for 202. Two strokes further back on 12-under 204 were former British Open champion Stewart Cink (68) and former US Open winner Lucas Glover (69). Andres Romero of Argentina (67) and Americans Kevin Na (67) and Bill Haas (71) are four behind the leader. Byrd had back-to-back birdies from the seventh before making bogey at the ninth. With his red-hot surge after the turn, he had seven birdies during a nine-hole stretch. Byrd said it took a little while to get accustomed to playing with world No. 4 Phil Mickelson, who shot a 74. Beyond the birdies and bogeys, many players were shaken by the death of Spain's Ballesteros, a five-times major winner who created excitement around the world with his charismatic personality and genius for the short game. Sergio Garcia, who was mentored by Ballesteros, struggled at the end of the round with two double bogeys and a bogey over his last five holes for a 74. Aiken wins Thomas Aiken won the Spanish Open golf Sunday and dedicated his maiden European Tour victory to Seve Ballesteros. The 27-year-old South African closed with a two-under-par 70 for a 10-under-par 278 four-round total at El Prat that left him two strokes better than experienced Dane Anders Hansen (70). Local favorite Pablo Larrazabal (71) was another player expected to run Aiken close but the Spaniard's double bogey on the fourth left him playing catch-up and he had to settle for a tie for third place.
