PINEHURST (North Carolina), June 19: Twice champion Retief Goosen held his nerve in punishing conditions to take a three-shot lead after the US Open third round on Saturday.
The world number five recovered from a double-bogey six at the 13th with three birdies in the last five holes to card a one-under-par 69 at Pinehurst’s formidable No 2 course.
Known for his unflappable temperament and ability to grind out pars on tough layouts, the 36-year-old South African finished on three-under 207, the only player in the field of 82 to end the day in red figures.
Tied for second at level-par 210 were Goosen’s playing partner Olin Browne and the unheralded Jason Gore, both carding 72s.
David Toms, the 2001 U.S. PGA champion, was a further shot back after a 70 while US Masters champion Tiger Woods recorded a 72 to finish in a four-way tie for seventh at three over.
Leading third round scores (US unless stated):
207 — Retief Goosen (South Africa) 68, 70, 69.
210 — Olin Browne 67, 71, 72; Jason Gore 71, 67, 72.
211 — Mark Hensby (Australia) 71, 68, 72; Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 71, 69, 71.
212 — David Toms 70, 72, 70.
213 — Lee Westwood (Britain) 68, 72, 73; Peter Hedblom (Sweden) 77, 66, 70; Tiger Woods 70, 71, 72; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 69, 70, 74.
214 — Peter Jacobsen 72, 73, 69; Arron Oberholser 76, 67, 71; Steve Allan (Australia) 72, 69, 73; Vijay Singh (Fiji) 70, 70, 74.
215 — Rocco Mediate 67, 74, 74; Tim Clark (South Africa) 76, 69, 70; Corey Pavin 73, 72, 70; Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 72, 71, 72; Adam Scott (Australia) 70, 71, 74; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 71, 69, 75.
216 — Paul Claxton 72, 72, 72; Kenny Perry 75, 70, 71; Luke Donald (Britain) 69, 73, 74; Keiichiro Fukabori (Japan) 74, 67, 75; Jim Furyk 71, 70, 75.
217 — Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 71, 73, 73; John Cook 71, 76, 70; Justin Leonard 76, 71, 70; Davis Love III 77, 70, 70; Tim Herron 74, 73, 70; Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 72, 74, 71; Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 71, 74, 72; Ted Purdy 73, 71, 73; Steve Jones 69, 74, 74.
218 — Bob Estes 70, 73, 75; Bernhard Langer (Germany) 74, 73, 71; Bill Glasson 74, 73, 71; Phil Mickelson 69, 77, 72; Ryuji Imada (Japan) 77, 68, 73; Charles Howell III 77, 68, 73.
219 — Fred Couples 71, 74, 74; Paul McGinley (Ireland) 76, 72, 71; Ernie Els (South Africa) 71, 76, 72; Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 72, 75, 72; John Mallinger 74, 72, 73; Rob Rashell 74, 72, 73; Peter Lonard (Australia) 71, 74, 74.
LEAD SHARED
ST OMER (France): Spain’s Carl Suneson produced the lowest round of the week in the St Omer Open on Saturday, a 65 that was only a stroke off the course record, to move into a share of the lead with Briton Ross Fisher.
Suneson collected seven birdies and failed to equal the record only by bogeying the short 17th. He reached a five-under-par 208 with Fisher, who battled back from a double-bogey on the 13th with three successive birdies to card a 68.
Leading third round scores (Britain unless stated):
208 — Ross Fisher 70, 70, 68; Carl Suneson (Spain) 74, 69, 65.
209 — Raphael De Sousa (Switzerland) 73, 70, 66; Adam Groom (Australia) 71, 70, 68; James Heath 70, 66, 73; James Hepworth 69, 71, 69; Iain Pyman 72, 71, 66.
210 — Joakim Baeckstroem (Sweden) 72, 70, 68; Sion Bebb 70, 72, 68; Gary Orr 71, 71, 68.
211 — Birgir Hafthorsson (Iceland) 68, 74, 69; Kyron Sullivan 76, 66, 69.—Reuters