Ogilvie keeps top spot
Joe Ogilvie, looking for his first PGA Tour victory, carded a six-under-par 66 and has a two-shot lead after the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Ogilvie offset his lone bogey by firing seven birdies, including a stretch of four in a row on his front nine, to reach 23-under 193. He is two shots better than Peter Lonard, who is alone in second.
“I think I played well the last probably 12 holes, or certainly better than the first six,” Ogilvie said.
“But I am playing well. I am hitting the irons, getting the ball in the fairway. From that standpoint, I am very happy.”
Lonard, who began the round tied for fourth, had nine birdies and one bogey in a round of 64. Swede Fredrik Jacobson shot 67 and is in third at 19-under 197.
“I think I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens and putted well,” Lonard said.
“I did not make one birdie the first five holes and I thought ‘How am I going to catch everyone?’ And sure enough, I got a few of them and away we went.”
Ogilvie has only hit 50 percent of the fairways but has found 83 percent of the greens and been very hot with his putter. He had just 19 putts over his first 14 holes after finishing with 25 each of the first two days.
“Once I get off the tee, I feel like I am playing as well as anybody can be,” Ogilvie said.
Phil Mickelson, the defending champion, had a tough time of it, shooting a 70 to get to 16 under.
England’s Ian Poulter had eight birdies and an eagle in an eight-under-par 64 which lifted him 53 places into a tie for 32nd on 12 under. Justin Rose is a shot further back after a bogey-free 68.
