DUBLIN (Ohio), June 3: Australia's Rod Pampling made a fine birdie at the final hole to jump to a three-shot lead after the third round of the Memorial tournament on Saturday.
He struck a splendid 9-iron from a fairway bunker, before sinking a three-footer to post a 4-under-par 68 in ideal scoring conditions at Muirfield Village.
Pampling was at 15-under 201, while fellow Australian Adam Scott (72) bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie for second with American Sean O'Hair (69) at 12-under.
Americans Will MacKenzie (65) and Stewart Cink (65) shared the low round of the day to vault into contention, four shots off the pace alongside Australian Aaron Baddeley (71).
Halfway leader Scott was still tied for the lead after 13 holes, but that was before Pampling picked up three birdies in the final five holes.
Tiger Woods was out of contention, 11 shots behind after a 2-under 70.
Play was delayed for two hours, 30 minutes due to lightning in the area, shortly before the leaders teed off.
Leading third-round scores:
201 – Rod Pampling (Australia) 65, 68, 68.
204 – Sean O'Hair (US) 65, 70, 69; Adam Scott (Australia) 70, 62, 72.
205 – Will MacKenzie (US) 67, 73, 65; Stewart Cink (US) 69, 71, 65; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 66, 68, 71.
206 – K.J. Choi (South Korea) 69, 70, 67; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 70, 67, 69; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 68, 68, 70; Ryan Moore (US) 66, 69, 71.
207 – Bubba Watson (US) 66, 68, 73.
208 – Tim Herron (US) 66, 73, 69; Nick O'Hern (Australia) 65, 74, 69.