Webb Up by Eight at British

Karrie Webb fired a course-record nine-under-par 63 Saturday and extended her lead to eight strokes after the third round of the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, England.

Webb, who won the title by six strokes in 1995, eagled the second and 14th holes--both par fives--and made six birdies en route to an 18-under 198 total with one round to play.

“I’m ecstatic, speechless--this is my best score ever,” the Australian said. “I’ve never played that well before.”

Webb led by three shots at the start of the round, but as her closest challengers stumbled, she forged further ahead despite a bogey, only her second in 54 holes.

Rosie Jones moved into second place at 206 with a flawless six-under 66.

England’s Lisa Hackney and Scotland’s Catriona Matthew were 12 strokes behind Webb at 210.

The long and accurate drives that characterized Webb’s opening two rounds were in evidence again. On the par-five second, she reached the green in two, then holed a 12-foot putt for eagle.

Her putting, slightly amiss during Friday’s round of 70, was impeccable this time, and on the short third she sank a curling 18-footer.

She was out in 31 after birdies at the seventh and ninth, the latter beginning a string of four consecutive birdies.

At the 13th, Webb took her only bogey, her par putt missing by an inch. But she got that shot back and went one better at the 14th, where she holed a 25-footer from the fringe of the green.

Webb last went into a final round with a lead at the Australian Masters in February. She held a five-stroke lead then, but surrendered it to Canadian Gail Graham and finished second.

World No. 1 Annika Sorenstam was at 211, along with American Betsy King, Helen Dobson of England and Kathryn Marshall of Scotland.

England’s Trish Johnson, who was tied for second with Marshall starting the round, had a disastrous day with seven bogeys and a double bogey, which came when she hit a bunker on the third and took three to get out. She finished with an 82 for the round and was at 220.

England’s Laura Davies, the world No. 3, mixed five birdies and a double bogey in her best round of the tournament, a 69, for 216.

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Gil Morgan shot a five-under 67 to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the First of America Classic in Ada, Mich.

Morgan, of Edmond, Okla., who has won three times this year in his rookie season on the Senior PGA Tour, moved to eight under for the tournament to lead Bob Duval by two strokes. Larry Gilbert, Dave Eichelberger and Gibby Gilbert were four strokes off the pace at Egypt Valley Country Club.

Morgan, who won successive events in early June, eagled the 560-yard par-five third hole.

“I didn’t play the par fives very well [Friday],” said Morgan, who was a combined four under on the Classic Course’s four par fives Saturday. “You have to play the par fives pretty well here.”

Duval, the father of PGA Tour player David Duval, shot a two-under 70 and stood at six under overall.

Duval shared the first-round lead with England’s John Morgan after opening with a 68. Duval’s second round featured six birdies and four bogeys, including two bogeys in the final four holes.