DULUTH (Georgia), April 2: Phil Mickelson turned the Classic golf into a race for second place on Saturday, forging eight strokes clear after the third round at the TPC at Sugarloaf. Six ahead overnight, the defending champion fired a five-under-par 67 to finish on a record-equalling total of 21-under 195.

Chasing his first victory of the year and his third BellSouth title, Mickelson tightened his grip with five consecutive birdies as he raced to the turn in five-under 31.

Despite missing a three-footer for par on 16 and running up a double-bogey seven at the last after twice finding water, Mickelson picked up three shots on the back nine to close in on his 28th PGA Tour title.

The American left-hander matched the tournament’s 54-hole record of 21-under 195, set by compatriot Larry Nelson in 1988 when the event was played at Atlanta Country Club.

Two more Americans, Zach Johnson (64) and Jonathan Byrd (66), were tied for second at 13 under with Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal a further stroke back in fourth after a 69.

Leading third round scores:

195 — Phil Mickelson (US) 63, 65, 67.

203 — Zach Johnson (US) 69, 70, 64; Jonathan Byrd (US) 69, 68, 66.

204 — Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 71, 64, 69.

206 — Doug Barron (US) 74, 67, 65; Steve Flesch (US) 71, 68, 67; J.J. Henry (US) 69, 65, 72.

208 — Retief Goosen (South Africa) 69, 70, 69.

209 — Todd Fischer (US) 70, 71, 68; Briny Baird (US) 72, 69, 68; Rich Beem (US) 69, 72, 68; Alex Cejka (Germany) 71, 70, 68; Mark Wilson (US) 68, 71, 70; David Howell (Britain) 67, 72, 70; Charles Warren (US) 65, 72, 72.

210 — Richard Johnson (Sweden) 73, 71, 66; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 70, 72, 68; Will MacKenzie (US) 69, 70, 71; Larry Mize (US) 71, 69, 70; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 68, 71, 71; Ryuji Imada (Japan) 71, 67, 72.

BROADHURST WINS

PENINA (Portugal): Britain’s Paul Broadhurst birdied the final hole to retain his Portuguese Open title on Sunday.

He closed with a five-under-par 67 to total 17-under-par 271 and win by a stroke from compatriot Anthony Wall.

The victory, his sixth European Tour title, gives 40-year-old Broadhurst a chance to play in his second Ryder Cup 15 years after his sole appearance.

Leading final round scores:

271 — Paul Broadhurst (Britain) 64, 69, 71, 67.

272 — Anthony Wall (Britain) 71, 67, 67, 67.

273 — Andres Romero (Argentina) 69, 70, 68, 66.

274 — Ricardo Gonzalez (Argentina) 73, 66, 64, 71; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 69, 70, 67, 68.

275 — Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 71, 70, 68, 66.

277 — Markus Brier (Austria) 72, 70, 66, 69; Mattias Eliasson (Sweden) 70, 67, 71, 69.

278 — Jarmo Sandelin (Sweden) 67, 70, 68, 73.—Reuters