Van Pelt, Garrigus share joint lead in third round
Published on: Sunday, October 28, 2012
Kuala Lumpur: Defending champion Bo Van Pelt of the United States shot a superb, nine-under-par 62 to surge up the leaderboard to joint lead round three of the 2012 CIMB Classic with compatriot Robert Garrigus.After three-rounds, both players accumulated 16-under-par 197.Van Pelt's lower scores enabled him to set the new course record.
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The 37-year-old had flawless scores on his first-nine with a six-under 29 but in the second-nine, the American was 11-under-par through 17 holes at the par-71 Mines Resort and Golf Club in Seri Kembangan near here Saturday."It is disappointing to finish with a double (double-bogey) but I look back on the 17-and-a-half holes I played and you know...hopefully, that will carry over into tomorrow, not the last half," he told a press conference.If he had birdied the 18th hole, Van Pelt would have scored a rare 12-under-par 59, but the score would not have counted among PGA Tour records because the CIMB Classic is not a full-status event on the Tour."Obviously, going into 18, I had a chance to shoot 59. I played the 18th hole well...I made a tap-in birdie there yesterday. I was just trying to really focus on my tee ball.
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"It was a tough tee ball. It's a tough tee shot. It was my best tee shot,unfortunately, I just went a little too far," said Van Pelt.
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Overnight leader, Garrigus, started off his third round with bogeys at the first and second hole but managed to overcame the situation."I always remain patient. I do not panic. I never get too upset or too overjoyed. I just told myself, there are so many birdie holes on this golf course."Just a few bad swings, a few bad putts. Other than that. I'm confident for tomorrow and ready to go," he said.Following Van Pelt and Garrigus with just one stroke behind was another PGA Tour regular, Chris Kirk, with a three-day total of 15-under-par 198, while Brendon de Jonge of Zimbabwe and Asian Tour's Jbe' Kruger of South Africa shared fourth placing.Golfing ace Tiger Woods moved up the leaderboard during the early part or the third round, when he had a blemish-free front nine with a 30 (five-under) but things took a turn for him in the back-nine when he dropped three bogeys and a double-bogey.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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