Date: October 07, 2012
Author: Omnisport

Birdie blitz keeps Blixt in contention

Six birdies over his last seven holes gave Jonas Blixt a share of the lead at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open while Jason Day is the leading Australian. The Swede stormed home in his third round on Saturday to shoot a five-under 66 and share the lead with Zimbabwean Brendon de Jonge and American Ryan Moore on 19 under overall. Americans Jimmy Walker and Tim Herron are five shots off the pace in a tie for fourth. Blixt, fresh off scores of 64 on Thursday and Friday, started with a birdie on the second hole but then stuttered, hitting three bogeys in a five-hole period from the sixth to the 10th. Despite the setback the 28-year-old finished strongly to shoot a five-under 66 for the day. De Jonge also carded a 66, with four birdies in a row from holes 14 to 17 helping him end the day on a good note. First-round leader Moore produced a consistent round, rolling in six birdies in a bogey-free 65. Walker hit one eagle and five birdies in his 66, while three back-nine birdies saw Herron finish with a score of 68 for the day. Day, Scotsman Russell Knox and American duo Colt Knost and Jason Bohn are all seven shots off the lead in a tie for sixth. Day and Bohn both shot seven under, the best scores of the day. Day started the day off with a double-bogey on the second hole but fought back with 10 birdies and a bogey while Bohn hit nine birdies in his round. Of the other Aussies in the field, Mathew Goggin continued his consistent tournament with a one-under 70 that sees him in a tie for 40th, while Nathan Green and Rod Pampling are both tied for 62nd. Reigning champion Kevin Na shot a one-under 70 and is now 10 shots behind the leading trio in a tie for 21st. American John Daly had a day to forget, following up a season-best eight-under 63 on Saturday with a disastrous 15-over 86 that included one quadruple-bogey, one triple-bogey, two double-bogeys and six bogeys, as well as two birdies.