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Rookie Baddeley in the lead over Els
Honolulu, Jan 19: Australian Aaron Baddeley lead the field with a two-stroke lead over Ernie Els after the third round of the $4.5 million Sony Open.
Honolulu, Jan 19: Australian Aaron Baddeley lead the field with a two-stroke lead over Ernie Els after the third round of the $4.5 million Sony Open.
Baddeley, a 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie in his first event as a tour member, had three birdies and an eagle before parring every hole on the inward half en route to a 5-under-par 65 in demanding, breezy conditions at Waialae Country Club.
"I hit a lot of good shots on the front nine," said the Australian, who was at 15-under 195 with one round left. Baddeley led by five strokes at the turn, but Els finished strongly with three birdies in the final five holes to shoot 66 and cut the gap to two.
Americans Robert Gamez (65), Briny Baird (67) and Chris DiMarco (69) were tied for third, five strokes behind.
"It's going to be exciting (on Sunday), my first time leading a PGA Tour event and playing with the second-best player in the world," Baddeley said.
Baddeley had about 18 balls stolen from his locker overnight but still had about a dozen left for his round, which is about the number he generally uses in the course of 18 holes.
The highlight of his day was an eagle at the par-five ninth, where he sank a 40-foot bomb from the back of the green. Baddeley, who won two Australian Opens and another big event "Down Under" before he turned 20, didn't sound intimidated by the thought of having to fend off Els in the final round.
Els, winner of last week's season-opening Mercedes Championships, has a chance to make a perfect start to the season. He wasn't at his sparkling best Saturday, especially on the front nine, where he had trouble adjusting to the pace of the greens, but by the end of the day, he was the only player to make a move on Baddeley.
"I didn't play all that great on the front nine but I grinded it out," said Els, who is bidding to become the first player to win the first two events of a season since Steve Jones in 1989. "I'm pleased to be only two back after being five back at one stage."
South African Retief Goosen, who shared the halfway lead with Baddeley, triple-bogeyed the first hole after pushing his drive into an unplayable lie. He shot 72 to fall seven shots off the pace.
Bureau Report
Baddeley had about 18 balls stolen from his locker overnight but still had about a dozen left for his round, which is about the number he generally uses in the course of 18 holes.
The highlight of his day was an eagle at the par-five ninth, where he sank a 40-foot bomb from the back of the green. Baddeley, who won two Australian Opens and another big event "Down Under" before he turned 20, didn't sound intimidated by the thought of having to fend off Els in the final round.
Els, winner of last week's season-opening Mercedes Championships, has a chance to make a perfect start to the season. He wasn't at his sparkling best Saturday, especially on the front nine, where he had trouble adjusting to the pace of the greens, but by the end of the day, he was the only player to make a move on Baddeley.
"I didn't play all that great on the front nine but I grinded it out," said Els, who is bidding to become the first player to win the first two events of a season since Steve Jones in 1989. "I'm pleased to be only two back after being five back at one stage."
South African Retief Goosen, who shared the halfway lead with Baddeley, triple-bogeyed the first hole after pushing his drive into an unplayable lie. He shot 72 to fall seven shots off the pace.
Bureau Report