Date: July 29, 2007
Author:

Singh over Allan by a stroke

Vijay Singh has taken the lead at the Canadian Open at Markham but a late wobble from the Fijian has opened the door to Australian Steve Allan who is just one stroke behind. In another dramatic day at the world&aposs third oldest Open, Singh opened with four birdies and a bogey before starting well on the back nine with another birdie at 11. But the Fijian struggled to maintain that form as he finished the round by posting two bogeys and a birdie to record a three-under-68 score on the par 71 course. Singh&aposs blip allowed Allan to work himself back into contention for the tournament. The Australian, who is second alongside second-round joint leader John Mallinger, was struggling on the front nine, turning for home at one-over for the day. But Allan upped his game coming home, posting birdies at 11, 14 and 15 before producing a superb chipped effort for par on 17. Indeed, Allan looked set to claim a share of the lead once again but the Australian squandered that opportunity when his approach to the 18th was fractionally long and ended with a bogey. After consecutive rounds of 66, Mallinger also had an off day as he recorded a 70 while first round leader Hunter Mahan, who followed up day one&aposs 62 with a disappointing 74, recovered to post 67 during the third round to be fourth out-right and still well in contention. The rest of the Australian contingent seems slightly off the pace although Paul Gow is at seven-under. Matthew Goggin (69) is also at six-under overall, two strokes ahead of Stephen Leaney (72) and Michael Sim (73) with Steve Elkington (69) one stroke further back and Jarrod Lyle (72) at one-under overall. Third Round of the Canadian Open: -12 Vijay Singh 68 65 68 -11 Steve Allan (Australia) 64 68 70, John Mallinger 66 66 70 -10 Hunter Mahan 62 74 67 -9 Pat Perez 68 70 66, Jim Furyk 69 66 69 -8 George McNeill 70 69 66, Bob Heintz 69 69 67, Glen Day 67 70 68, Tom Pernice, Jr. 68 68 69, Bo Van Pelt 66 70 69, Brandt Snedeker 67 68 70, Ryan Palmer 67 67 71 -7 Bob Tway 69 71 66, Paul Gow (Australia) 70 69 67, Troy Matteson 67 71 68, Shigeki Maruyama 69 69 68, Steve Marino 70 66 70, Dicky Pride 68 68 70, Cliff Kresge 70 65 71, Michael Putnam 66 68 72, Tripp Isenhour 65 68 73 also: -6 Mathew Goggin (Australia) 68 70 69 -4 Stephen Leaney (Australia) 70 67 72, Michael Sim (Australia) 69 67 73 -3 Steve Elkington (Australia) 72 69 69 -1 Jarrod Lyle (Australia) 75 65 72