ORLANDO, Florida — Swede Henrik Stenson picked up four shots in the final four holes to charge to a two-stroke lead after the third round at the $6.3 million Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida Saturday. World No. 3 Stenson plundered the closing stretch at Bay Hill in Orlando for the second successive day, hitting a series of precise approach shots to finish birdie, eagle, par, birdie. He carded a 66 for a 16-under 200 total, matching the best 54-hole score at Bay Hill, while American Morgan Hoffman (71) is alone in second place on 14-under. Four players are three shots behind, including Australian Matt Jones, who birdied the final four holes, and defending champion Matt Every. While Stenson surged, world No. 1 Rory McIlroy backtracked with a 71 to fall seven shots off the pace after running up three consecutive bogeys from the 14th hole. “I just hit some great shots and some great putts,” Stenson told NBC. Four-time major winner Ernie Els was questioned by officials for a possible rules violation before being cleared. Television showed Els touching his wedge in long grass in a hazard at the par-five sixth hole during the third round at Bay Hill in Florida. However, tour rules official Steve Rintoul could not determine from watching the video whether the South African grounded his club, which would have resulted in a two-stroke penalty. Kim takes lead into final round South Korea's Kim Hyo-joo fired seven birdies in a six-under par 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Founders Cup. Kim wrapped up her round in dying light at Wildfire Golf Club, her 16-under par total of 200 giving her a two-shot lead over American Stacy Lewis. Lewis had six birdies in her five-under 67 for 202, and was one stroke in front of fellow Americans Alison Lee and Kim Kaufman. Lee rocketed up the leaderboard with a stellar nine-under par 63 that included nine birdies. Kaufman, who had grabbed the halfway lead ahead of Kim when the second round was completed Saturday morning, posted a third-round 70 for a 13-under total of 203. World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand headed a group on 204 after her second straight 69. She was joined by South Koreans Jang Ha-na — who posted her third successive 68 — and Lee Mi-hyang, who signed for a 68. Madeira Open canceled Organizers canceled the Madeira Islands Open because of continuing bad weather Sunday. In a statement on the European Tour website, chief operating officer Keith Waters said “we are already in discussions with the club and the sponsors to reschedule the event for another week” later this season. Heavy winds and rain sweeping the Portuguese island for the previous three days did not let up, leaving the Clube de Golf Santo da Serra flooded. Organizers had already reduced the tournament to 36 holes Saturday in an effort to salvage the European Tour event. The field was only able to complete the first round Saturday, with Denmark's Joachim B. Hansen leading by one stroke. This is the second straight year weather has disrupted the tournament. Last year, heavy fog during the first three days forced organizers to reduce it to 36 holes. — Agencies
