Date: June 08, 2008
Author:

Coles surrenders share of lead

Tim Clark has fired into the lead which Australian Gavin Coles shared before moving day at the St Jude Championship. Clark charged to the head of the field courtesy of a six-under-par 64 to move two shots clear of five players, including Coles, on five-under 205 at TPC Southwind. The South African tore up the back nine, closing his final five holes with an eagle and three birdies. Overall, he had four birdies in a bogey-free round. Coles, meanwhile, endured four bogeys against as many birdies in an even-par 70. He, along with Trevor Immelman, Americans Marc Turnesa and Bill Haas and German Alex Cejka, trails Clark by just two strokes. Turnesa and Coles were among six golfers who began the day tied for the lead at three-under. Immelman, the reigning Masters champion, and Haas each carded a three-under 67s. The South African sank six birdies against three bogeys, while the American Haas offset a pair of bogeys with five birdies. Cejka shot a 69 in the third round, while Turnesa signed for an even-par 70. Justin Leonard, Vijay Singh, Dean Wilson and Canadian Stephen Ames trail Clark by three shots. Of the quartet, Leonard enjoyed the best round Saturday, carding a three-under 67. Coles is the only Australian inside the top 20 and the only to be under-par. Robert Allenby (69) had his best round of the tournament to be one-over-par and six shots off the pace. Third Round of The Stanford St Jude Championship (Par 70): -5: Tim Clark 72 69 64 -3: Trevor Immelman 74 66 67, Bill Haas 71 69 67, Alex Cejka 69 69 69, Gavin Coles (Australia) 73 64 70, Marc Turnesa 68 69 70 -2: Justin Leonard 68 73 67, Stephen Ames 69 71 68, Vijay Singh 67 71 70, Dean Wilson 69 68 71 -1: Padraig Harrington 71 72 66, Boo Weekley 65 75 69, Brandt Snedeker 69 71 69, Bob Estes 74 65 70, Jason Dufner 69 68 72 E: Scott Verplank 71 72 67, Jeff Gove 70 73 67, Tim Herron 74 67 69, J P Hayes 70 71 69, Omar Uresti 70 69 71, Michael Letzig 70 68 72, Tommy Armour III 66 71 73 Also: +1: Robert Allenby (Australia) 71 71 69 +2: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 68 76 68, Brett Rumford (Australia) 69 73 70 +7: Stephen Leaney (Australia) 70 74 73