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MEMPHIS (Tennessee), May 29: American Justin Leonard extended his lead to eight strokes at the $4.9 million St Jude Classic on Saturday, firing a flawless four-under 66 to move within sight of his second win of the season.
It was the second bogey-free round at the TPC at Southwind for the former British Open champion, splitting four birdies between the front and back nine to sit on 17-under 193, eight shots clear of Heath Slocum heading into Sunday’s final round.
Tom Pernice Jr is one shot further adrift at eight-under 202 followed by Fred Funk, Davis Love III and Fred Funk all on 203.
Two-time defending champion David Toms fired a third round five-under 65 to rocket up the leaderboard and sits in a tie for seventh at six-under 204.
Leading third round scores:
193 — Justin Leonard (US) 62, 65, 66.
201 — Heath Slocum (US) 68, 66, 67.
202 — Tom Pernice Jr (US) 66, 68, 68.
203 — Fred Funk (US) 69, 68, 66; Davis Love III (US) 65 70 68; Paul Goydos (US) 67, 66, 70.
204 — David Toms (US) 68, 71, 65; Bob Estes (US) 67, 70, 67; Phillip Price (Britain) 67, 69, 68; Richard S. Johnson (Sweden) 69, 66, 69; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 68, 64, 72.
205 — Billy Andrade (US) 70, 70, 65; Mathias Groenberg (Sweden) 69, 70, 66; Roland Thatcher (US) 67, 67, 71.
TWO-WAY TIE
VIRGINIA WATER (England): Argentina’s Angel Cabrera birdied the last two holes to share the third-round lead with Sweden’s Peter Hedblom after a wind-buffeted day at the BMW Championship on Saturday.
Cabrera, who tied for third at last week’s Irish Open, fired a super six-under-par 66 in tough conditions at Wentworth Club’s West Course to finish on 10-under 206.
Hedblom, the surprise overnight pacesetter, recovered from a stumbling start before holing a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 for a 73 to join Cabrera at the top of the leaderboard.
British Ryder Cup player David Howell, lifted by an eagle-eagle finish, matched Cabrera’s 66 to finish a further two strokes back in a tie for third at eight under with Irishman Paul McGinley, who carded a 72.
Leading third round scores:
206 — Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 70, 70, 66; Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 68, 65, 73.
208 — David Howell (Britain) 70, 72, 66; Paul McGinley (Ireland) 72, 64, 72.
210 — Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 71, 68, 71; Peter Hanson (Sweden) 69, 69, 72; Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 72, 67, 71; Marten Olander (Sweden) 68, 72, 70.
212 — Bradley Dredge (Britain) 75, 68, 69; Retief Goosen (South Africa) 70, 70, 72; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 70, 68, 74; Damien McGrane (Ireland) 69, 71, 72; Gary Murphy (Ireland) 74, 68, 70; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 72, 69, 71.
213 — Jamie Donaldson (Britain) 73, 71, 69; Paul Lawrie (Britain) 73, 70, 70; Nick O’Hern (Australia) 68, 69, 76; Ian Poulter (Britain) 71, 69, 73.
214 — Paul Broadhurst (Britain) 70, 70, 74; Peter Lonard (Australia) 69, 70, 75; Andrew Marshall (Britain) 72, 72, 70; Steven O’Hara (Britain) 69, 72, 73; Steve Webster (Britain) 71, 72, 71.—Reuters
