Aussie John Senden is eight shots behind leader Carl Pettersson after recording a three-under-par third round of 67 at the Wyndham Championship. Senden registered his second faultless round for the tournament, following his bogey-free four-under 66 on the first day, as he helped himself to birdies at the 4th, 7th and 15th holes to be in equal sixth position. However, Pettersson maintained the competition lead and will take a two-shot advantage over Scott McCarron into the final round. Pettersson, who carded a magnificent 61 in the second round to take the halfway lead, backed it up with a generally tidy four-under-par 66 to take his cumulative total to 19-under 191, two strokes clear of McCarron (64). Briny Baird (62), Kevin Streelman (67) and Garrett Willis (71) were tied for third six strokes behind Pettersson on 13-under. Pettersson, a North Carolina-based Swede, parred the first four holes before making eagle at the par-five fifth, where he hit his second shot to four feet. His only blemish came at the par-five 15th, which he bogeyed after three-putting from inside four feet. McCarron, still playing his way back after major elbow surgery two years ago, finished in style with a birdie at the last, where he holed a 45-foot bunker shot. Pettersson, a two-time PGA Tour winner, was frustrated with his round after he failed to extend his lead. “It was probably the worst score I could have shot,” he said. “I had so many chances today. I just didn&apost convert the putts like yesterday. It&aposs tough to play the day after you shoot 61.” “Unless you get off to a really hot start, you feel like you&aposre behind the eight-ball. I kept telling myself that today.” McCarron was pleased with his bogey-free round, which was highlighted when he holed from a difficult bunker shot on the 18th. “It was probably the only spot I didn&apost want to be in. I had a downhill bunker shot, downhill lie,” he said. “I played well again today. I drove it in the fairway quite a few times, hit a lot of greens and was able to make a few putts.” The 43-year-old Californian is on the comeback trail after missing the entire 2007 due to major elbow surgery. “I wasn&apost sure if I could continue doing this because you never know when you have an injury like that if you can make it back, especially to play at this level,” he said, adding that he was now &apos100 percent healed&apos. Baird made the day&aposs biggest move, shooting 62 despite bogeying the first hole. He stormed home in 28 strokes, picking up seven birdies on the inward half, including at the final four holes. With little wind, the pros again plundered the historic Donald Ross layout, averaging 68.5 strokes. Pettersson and McCarron know they will have to keep attacking in the final round. “Somebody is probably going to shoot 62 tomorrow and come out of the pack, so Scott and I are both going to have to go low,” said Pettersson. A Pettersson victory would lift him into serious consideration for the European Ryder Cup team, even though he has lived half his life in the United States. Meanwhile, David Lutterus was the next-best placed Australian behind Senden on five-under while Nick Flanagan (three-under), Mark Hensby (three-under) and Peter Lonard (even) found themselves a lot further back in the field. Third Round of The Wyndham Championship (Par 70) -19: Carl Pettersson 64 61 66 -17: Scott McCarron 65 64 64 -13: Briny Baird 67 68 62, Garrett Willis 64 64 69, Kevin Streelman 66 64 67 -11: Scott Sterling 64 71 64, Kent Jones 66 68 65, John Senden (Australia) 66 66 68, John Riegger 67 65 68, Jerry Kelly 66 65 68, Tim Clark 64 67 68, Bob Sowards 65 66 68 -10: Rich Beem 70 67 63, Eric Axley 67 69 64, Vaughn 67 67 66, Lucas Glover 66 68 66, Lee Janzen 67 66 67, Michael Letzig 67 66 67 Also: -9: Danny Lee (New Zealand) 68 66 67 -6: Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 66 69 69 -5: David Lutterus (Australia) 69 64 72 -3: Tim Flanagan (Australia) 68 69 70, Mark Hensby (Australia) 66 66 75 E: Peter Lonard (Australia) 66 71 73
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