Date: May 13, 2007
Author:

Lonard still in the hunt

A spectacular albatross has helped Peter Lonard remain in the hunt for golf&aposs &aposfifth major&apos with one round remaining at the Player&aposs Championship. Lonard drained his second shot on the par five second hole to catapult him up the leaderboard and send the crowd into raptures. The 39-year-old Australian carded a third-round 68, his best 18 holes of the tournament to date, to sit two shots adrift of American Sean O&aposHair (66) who is alone at the top of the leaderboard at nine-under par. A bogey at the final hole dropped Lonard back to seven-under par but still well in contention to claim the most prestigious victory of his career. Fellow Australian Aaron Baddeley fired a five-under par 67 to move within four strokes of the lead and into contention at the Sawgrass TPC. Baddeley enjoyed four birdies and a stunning eagle at the par-five ninth in a reminder of his exceptional talent. O&aposHair, who took the 54-hole lead with a birdie on the 18th, will be paired with two-time US Masters champion Phil Mickleson (69) for the final round of the event. Mickelson&aposs penultimate round was more solid than spectacular, keeping him within a shot of the lead. The burly American had a dream start with birdies on the opening two holes before a bogey at three halted his momentum momentarily. He birdied two of his last three holes, including 18, to secure his position in the final pairing on day four. A white-hot 64 from Jeff Quinney sent him rocketing up the leaderboard on moving day. The American had eight birdies and not a single blemish on his scorecard to finish the third round level with Lonard. While Lonard and Baddeley kept their cool, compatriot Nathan Green was unable to keep up his solid early form. Green began the day just one shot behind second-round leader Mickleson, but is all but out of contention after he stumbled his way to a two-over par 74. The New South Welshman began his round with a bogey and endured three more for the day. World No. 1 Tiger Woods is in unfamiliar territory on the eve of the final day after a third straight over-par round. Woods (73), the tournament&aposs 2001 winner, is 14 shots off the pace courtesy of a 73 today, which included a double-bogey at the seventh. Leading scores after round three of the Players Championship: (par 72) -9: Sean O&aposHair 72 69 66 -8: Phil Mickelson 67 72 69 -7: Jeff Quinney 71 74 64, Peter Lonard (Australia) 69 72 68 -5: Luke Donald 74 72 65, Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 72 72 67, Jose Coceres 73 70 68, Chris DiMarco 68 74 69, Carl Pettersson 70 71 70 -4: Tim Clark 73 72 67, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 74 71 67, J.P. Hayes 71 73 68 -3: Sergio Garcia 73 73 67, Cliff Kresge 72 72 69, Jose Maria Olazabal 78 66 69 also -2: Steve Elkington (Australia) 73 71 70, Mathew Goggin (Australia) 72 71 71, Nathan Green (Australia) 71 69 74 -1: Adam Scott (Australia) 74 71 70 E: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 74 71 71 +2: John Senden (Australia) 73 74 71 +5: Rod Pampling (Australia) 70 71 80