Date: April 26, 2009
Author: PA Sport

Pampling moves to third

Australian Rod Pampling has a share of third place after the third round of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Pampling fired a third round four-under-par 68 to race up the leaderboard to within four strokes of the clubhouse leader, American Jerry Kelly who is on minus 13. The Australian started the day steadily before firing into contention with four straight birdies to finish his back nine. Greg Chalmers also moved up the board with one round to play following a blistering five-under-par 67 that moved him to minus seven. Compatriot Nathan Green is a further stroke back while Jason Day is at minus five and still with a chance of upsetting the leaders. Kelly, playing his 200th event since his last US Tour win seven years ago, opened up his three-stroke lead with a third-round 69. The 42-year-old, who walked out of last week&aposs Verizon Heritage tournament after taking a 10 early in his second round, goes into the final day on 13 under par and has had only two dropped shots in 54 holes. Kelly birdied the second, fifth and 15th while others – England&aposs Ian Poulter and Greg Owen included – could not keep bogeys or worse off their cards. Steve Marino moved into second place with a 68, yet that ended with a bogey six after he came out of a greenside bunker far too strongly. Fellow Americans Charles Howell, John Rollins and little-known Aaron Watkins and South Korean Charlie Wi are joint third on nine under with Pampling. Poulter was in joint fifth place after an opening birdie, but went in the water on the fourth, then pitched over the green for another bogey at the long 11th. By dropping another shot on the 216-yard 14th the Open Championship runner-up fell outside the top 30, but sinking a 33-yard bunker shot for an eagle three at the last gave him a 72 and brought him back up to joint 15th with Scot Martin Laird, who birdied two of the last three for a 71. Owen, four behind at halfway, bogeyed two of the first three, battled his way back to ninth spot with four birdies, but then finished with two more bogeys. That added up to a 72 as well, leaving the Mansfield golfer in a tie for 21st with Londoner Brian Davis, who returned his third successive 70. After a course record-equalling 64 in the second round and then an outward 34 Troy Matteson was only one behind playing partner Kelly, but he let strokes go at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 16th and 18th for a back nine 41. Marino was philosophical about his final effort, saying: “I do feel good. It was disappointing to end like that on 18.” “But I had some good breaks today, too. But in the end after four rounds everything kind of balances out.” Asked about his chances on the final day, he added: “It&aposs going to take some good golf and some good luck. I&aposve been close a couple of times.” “I&aposve been struggling like the last couple of months, but I feel I&aposm starting to come around and playing well again.” “So maybe I&aposll get a couple of good breaks tomorrow and make some putts. You never know.” Leader Kelly added: “My goal was to be comfortable. I&aposm not going to force shots that make me uncomfortable. I&aposm going to try to stay comfortable.” “I&aposve got a swing that&aposs not new, but it hasn&apost really been tested as much as I&aposd like to have it tested. And that&aposs because I haven&apost played as well in the last few years.” “I think I&aposm probably a little stronger and a little more consistent than I&aposve been. But, you know, it&aposs got to show up in terms before you can really trust it and let it go.” When asked when he was last in such a position, Kelly said: “You could probably tell me easier than I could tell you. “I don&apost know, and I don&apost really care.” “It&aposs all about where you finish tomorrow. Today doesn&apost mean a whole lot.” Zurich Classic After Round 3 -13: Jerry Kelly 68 66 69 -10: Steve Marino 70 68 68 -9: Rod Pampling (Australia) 68 71 68, Aaron Watkins 70 68 69, Charles Howell III 68 69 70, John Rollins 69 67 71, Charlie Wi 66 70 71 -8: Jeff Overton 68 72 68, Joe Ogilvie 70 69 69, Roland Thatcher 68 70 70, Rory Sabbatini 70 67 71, Kevin Stadler 70 67 71, John Merrick 67 69 72, David Toms 68 68 72 -7: Lucas Glover 72 71 66, Greg Chalmers (Australia) 69 73 67, Darron Stiles 73 67 69, Martin Laird 68 70 71, KJ Choi 72 66 71, Ian Poulter 71 66 72 Also: -6: Nathan Green (Australia) 67 72 71 -5: Jason Day (Australia) 69 71 71 -4: John Senden (Australia) 70 72 70 -2: Aron Price (Australia) 73 70 71, Matt Jones (Australia) 72 69 73 -1: Steve Allan (Australia) 76 67 72 +1: Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 69 70 78