Bernd Wiesberger was within a round of claiming his maiden European Tour victory after running away with the lead at the Ballantine's Championship Saturday. The 25-year-old Austrian fired a second successive seven-under 65 to take a stranglehold on the $2.9 million tournament at Blackstone Golf Club, Icheon, near Seoul. His three-round total of 202, 14-under-par, stretched his overnight lead to five shots over Australia's Marcus Fraser, who struggled to cling on to his playing partner's coat tails with a 69. A further shot back were England's Oliver Fisher (67) and Chile's Felipe Aguilar (68). Ireland's Paul McGinley set a scorching pace in the first group out Saturday by rolling in birdies at five of his first six holes on his way to a seven-under 65, equalling the best round of the week. But despite his great effort, which moved him up to fifth on the leaderboard by the end of the day, he was seven adrift of Wiesberger. Dufner soars American journeyman Jason Dufner coolly rolled in a curling 30-foot eagle putt on his final hole to grab a one-shot lead in Friday's second round of the New Orleans Classic in Avondale, Louisiana. Seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour after twice losing out in playoffs last season, Dufner carded a flawless seven-under-par 65 at the TPC Louisiana to post a 12-under total of 132. Scotland's Russell Knox, a rookie on the US circuit this year who has made only two cuts in eight starts, fired a superb 64 to tie the course record and share second place with Americans Ken Duke (68) and John Rollins (66). Australian left-hander Greg Chalmers also shot a 64 and was a further stroke back at 10 under, level with three-times major winner Ernie Els (68) and American world number seven Steve Stricker (68). Masters champion Bubba Watson, who clinched last year's New Orleans Classic in a playoff but has struggled with fatigue this week, birdied his penultimate hole on the way to a second successive 71 and made the cut right on the number. Lewis grabs lead American Stacy Lewis birdied five holes on the back nine Friday en route to a five-under 67 that gave her a one-shot lead ahead of four players sharing second on 136 in the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. Sweden's Karin Sjodin fired a course record-equalling 64 on The Crossings layout to join the group at eight-under, which also included South Korea's US Open champion So Yeon Ryu (67), Sydnee Michaels (68) and Australian Lindsey Wright (69).
