Monday January 14, 2013
In-form PGA Tour rookies continue to lead at Sony Open
HONOLULU: PGA Tour rookies Russell Henley and Scott Langley continued to set the pace on Saturday, sharing a three-shot lead after three rounds of the US PGA Tour Sony Open.
Overnight leader Henley carded three birdies without a bogey in his three-under 67 while Langley, the first-round leader, carded a five-under 65 to grab his share of the lead on 17-under 193.
They duelled for the lead during the round and finished the day sharing a 54-hole scoring record for the tournament, improving on the 194 set by John Huston in 1998 and equalled by Brad Faxon in 2001.
Henley and Langley, who tied for low amateur honours at the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach, will play together for the fourth straight day in the final round.
“We’re just taking it all in and having a great time together,” Langley said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Henley said he hoped he could stay loose for the final round, but that it would be only natural for some nerves to creep in. A hefty winner’s prize of US$990,000 is on offer in the US$5.6mil event, with an invitation to the first Major of the year, the US Masters, also at stake.
“I’ve never been in this situation before, but hopefully it’s real easy and I’m real relaxed and I don’t have any nerves,” said Henley, a two-time winner on the Web.com developmental tour last year. “But I’m probably going to be nervous and probably just going to have to try to slow myself down, and just enjoy the day.
“ It is a lot of pressure out here, even the first three days, so I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like.”
South Africa’s Tim Clark, aiming to rebound this season after a 2012 campaign in which he was hampered by injury, carded his second straight 66 for a 14-under total of 196.
He was three shots behind leaders Henley and Langley.
“I’m sure they won’t be too intimidated,” Clark said.
“That’s going to be fun to see them play. There’s all these young guys coming out these days, and they’re ready to go right from the start. So it’s going to be a fun battle.”
Charles Howell, a two-time runner-up at the tournament carded a 67 on the par-70 Waialae Country Club course and was tied with Australian Scott Gardiner (65) on 13-under 197.
Langley, who started the third round two strokes behind Henley, pulled even with his fifth birdie of the day at the 10th.
He returned seven birdies and two bogeys, twice pulling ahead of Henley who seized his share of the lead with a birdie at the 18th. — Agencies
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