Colbert Protects Lead with Par at 18

Jim Colbert savored his par-saving effort on the final hole far more than any of his birdies in the du Maurier Champions at Etobicoke, Canada.

“The par at 18 was harder than any of the birdies I made,” said Colbert, who shot a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday for a one-stroke lead over playing partners Graham Marsh and Jack Kiefer.

“I was over the green and made four. The setup today was terrific. The pins were very difficult.”

Colbert, an 18-time tour winner who is trying to end the longest winless streak of his senior career, struggled with St. George’s firm greens and difficult pin placements after opening with consecutive 65s.

“I missed a three-foot par putt at No. 8 and a three-foot birdie putt at No. 9. I hadn’t missed a putt all week,” said Colbert, winless since the Raley’s Gold Rush Classic in October. “I confused myself a lot and, boy, it’s hard to putt when you’re confused.”

Marsh, a three-time tour winner, bogeyed the final hole for a 70, and Kiefer bogeyed the final three holes for a 69.

“I was around it, but not quite as sharp as the first two days,” Marsh said. “Apart from a couple of par putts, I didn’t make any putts, and that’s very important when you’re in there with a chance. Not a great day, not a bad day. But probably a little thankful to be still only one shot back.”

Kiefer was 15 under through No. 15, two strokes ahead of Colbert and Marsh.

“It wasn’t a very good finish,” Kiefer said. “I didn’t birdie any of the par-fives today, which really hurt. But this won’t bother me. It’s not like I’m out of the tournament. I’ve still got a shot at it.”

Colbert, Marsh and Kiefer again will play in the same threesome today.

“When you’re in this type of situation, it’s always better to be able to keep your eye on what’s happening,” Marsh said. “I think the winner will come out of our threesome. Someone would really have to have a hot one and all of us would have to play poorly.”

Jerry McGee was five back after a 68.

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Brandie Burton, winless since a three-victory season in 1993, shot a four-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Edina Realty Classic in Maple Grove, Minn.

Burton, a playoff loser to Sweden’s Liselotte Neumann in last year’s tournament at Edinburgh USA, made a 30-foot birdie putt on No. 16 en route to a nine-under 135 on the Rush Creek Golf Club course.

Michelle McGann, who had a share of the first-round lead with Burton and Pat Hurst, shot a 70 to join Jane Geddes (67), Catriona Matthew (68) and Mayumi Hirase (68) at 137.

Kelli Kuehne, the two-time U.S. Women’s Amateur champion playing in her first LPGA event as a professional, shot a 75 to miss the cut by a stroke at 148.