Choi stretches Sony Open lead to four strokes in Honolulu

South Korean K.J. Choi fired a four-under-par 66 on Saturday to stretch his lead to four strokes after three rounds of the US$5.3 million Sony Open.

Choi, who began the day with a two-shot lead over Kevin Na, finished the day with a 15-under total of 195 and a four-shot edge over surging New Zealander Tim Wilkinson.

Wilkinson up the leaderboard with an eight-under 62 for 199.

Choi quick out of the blocks, opening with back-to-back birdies. He cooled off a little, but nabbed three more birdies against one bogey to put himself in position to claim a wire-to-wire victory yesterday.

GOOD DAY

"I started out with birdies and felt like I was going to have a very good day," Choi said. "During the middle of the round I faced a lot of difficult pin positions so it made it a little bit difficult."

The 37-year-old closed the front nine with a birdie, but gave a shot back at the 11th.

He birdied 14, then capped his round with a birdie at the par-five 18th -- where he blasted out of a bunker to about six feet.

Choi, who is seeking his seventh US PGA Tour victory, has posted three rounds in the 60s.

"I'm very satisfied with my shots, the way I'm shaping my shots," he said.

"I'm hitting the shots the way I want to and I feel really good about my shots. I feel like I had a good round," Choi said.

Wilkinson his 62 before Choi teed off and will play for his first US title in the final group.

He started strong, with birdies at his first two holes and seven birdies in his first 11.

eighth birdie

Wilkinson cooled off after his birdie on 11, but he did close the round with his eighth birdie of the day.

"It was just fun to play out there today," Wilkinson said. "I played to the safe side most of the time, and I just made some good putts. That made a big difference."

Na an uneven round 69 that included four birdies and three bogeys. That left him tied for third at 10-under with fellow American Steve Marino, who posted a 68.

Marino that he and the rest of the chasing pack will have their work cut out to catch Choi.

The South Korean has had a 54-hole lead four times and converted each time.

"Obviously he's playing really well, so I can't worry about what he's doing out there, I've just got to do the best I can," Marino said.

"If he falters a little bit, I might have a chance to catch him," he said.