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Peter Uihlein leads the ISPS Handa Wales Open after a third round that included an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys to reach 7-under 206 at Celtic Manor.

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Bernie McGuire

Associated Press

Series: European Tour

NEWPORT, Wales – Peter Uihlein seized a three-shot lead at the ISPS Handa Wales Open on Saturday by shooting a 4-under 67 while the overnight leaders struggled in the third round. 

The American had five birdies and an eagle at the par-5 ninth in an inconsistent round that also included three bogeys, giving him a 7-under total of 206. Frenchmen Thomas Levet (67) and Gregory Bourdy (70) were tied for second place in the first event that awards points for the 2014 European Ryder Cup team. 

Overnight leader Liam Bond of Wales, who lives just 10 miles from Celtic Manor, fell out of contention with a 78 which included five bogies and double bogey. Norway's Espen Kofstad, who was second going into the round, shot a 76 to sit in a tie for 23rd. 

Uihlein, the son of Titleist chief Peter Uihlein and the winner of the Madeira Islands Open this year, was on level par for the round after eight holes with two birdies and two bogeys, but then sent a long iron to within nine feet for an eagle that put him atop the leaderboard, a spot he never relinquished. 

He holed a 50-footer for a birdie at the 10th picked up another stroke at the 14th, saved par from 25 feet at the 16th and got up and down from the sand for a closing birdie. 

"I was just solid and was able to plot my way around," Uihlein said. "The wind was tricky sometimes, it would lay down then it would pick up, but it was always from the same direction so you could sort of get a beat on it." 

Levet mixed seven birdies with three bogeys for his 67, while Bourdy had four birdies and a double bogey when he found the water at the short 13th. 

"I played very solidly today," Levet said. "Even when I bogeyed, I was quite unlucky. It was a very good round." 

The consistent Bourdy recovered well after his mishap at the 13th, picking up a shot on 16 and ending the day right in the mix. 

"I am quite happy after the end because I had to fight to get pars on 17 and 18," he said. 

A shot further back are Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Joost Luiten and Peter Hedblom. 

Hedblom had the day's best round with a 66, mixing six birdies with a lone bogie at the 16th. 

It was a bad day for European Ryder Cup Captain Paul McGinley, who added a 77 to his opening 70-69 to fall from a share of fourth place down to a share of 42nd. 

Ravens Mulling Over Franchise Tag Options

Posted Jan 8, 2014

Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing Articles



The Ravens could use the franchise tag on Dennis Pitta and Eugene Monroe.



The Ravens avoided having to use the franchise tag last season by signing quarterback Joe Flacco before the start of free agency.

They have a number of key players set to become unrestricted free agents this season, and General Manger Ozzie Newsome left the door open to using the tag to keep them in Baltimore.

“The possibility of using the franchise tag is something that we might have to do,” Newsome said duringWednesday’s season-review press conference.

The top candidates for the franchise tag are tight end Dennis Pitta and left tackle Eugene Monroe.

By placing the franchise tag on a player, the Ravens prevent him from signing with another team. Players under the franchise tag then get a pre-determined salary for one season that pays them the average of the five highest earning players at his position.

Newsome said that the Ravens will discuss the topic of franchising a player next week when the brass holds its annual meeting in Florida at the home of Owner Steve Bisciotti. Newsome, Head Coach John Harbaugh, Team President Dick Cass, Assistant General Manger Eric DeCosta and Senior Vice President of Football Administration Pat Moriarty will all make the trip.

“We’ll have the opportunity to go down to the principal’s office this weekend,” Newsome said. “We’ll know exactly what our cap situation is. We’ll talk about guys that we want to re-sign, extend, whatever, release. We will do whatever it takes.”

Pitta appears to be a likely candidate for the tag, as he is one of quarterback Joe Flacco’s favorite and most reliable targets. He bounced back from a fractured and dislocated hip this season, and showed the Ravens that he is deserving of a long-term contract. Pitta finished the year with 20 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown.

“We saw Dennis for three weeks before we put him on the field, and he still has his skills and the skillset to be a very productive receiver in this league,” Newsome said. “Going forward, we would like to have Dennis on our football team. He plays winning football for us in a lot of manners. He is a mismatch problem for defenses.

“So, yes, he is someone we will be talking about down in Jupiter, [FL] and we’d like to have him.”

If the Ravens franchise Pitta or one of their other free agents, the player doesn’t necessarily have to play under the tag. The tag could buy the two sides some extra time to work out a long-term contract extension before the season.

The Ravens have gone that route in the past, including in 2012 when they franchised running back Ray Rice and then worked out a long-term deal.

While franchise tagging is an option to keep one of the top free agents in Baltimore, Newsome also acknowledged that Pitta or Monroe could leave for big contracts elsewhere.

“We wanted [Paul] Kruger and [Dannell] Ellerbe back last year, and we weren’t able to keep them,” Newsome said.