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Defending champion Weekley surges to Heritage lead

Defending champion Boo Weekley fired a six-under 65 on Saturday to surge to a three-shot lead after three rounds of the US$5.5 million dollar Heritage USPGA tournament in South Carolina.

Weekley’s 15-under total of 198 put him three strokes in front of fellow American Anthony Kim, who shot a 67 for 201. Kim’s round was highlighted by an eagle at the par-five second.

Weekley had started the day two strokes off the lead. But he thrust himself into position to retain the title with a front nine that included five straight birdies from the fourth. He finished with seven birdies and one bogey.

Australian Aaron Baddeley carded a 67 to head a group sharing third place on 10-under 203. He was joined by Americans Jason Bohn (67) and Cliff Kresge (68).

American Jim Furyk was a further shot back after a round of 68 for 204.

Weekley will be trying to claim his second USPGA tour victory. At last year’s Heritage he beat South African Ernie Els by a stroke, in a late Monday finish that saw him chip in for par at his last two holes.

“I think if I could carry this over to every tournament, I think I’d be up on top about every week,” said Weekley, who will be trying to become the first repeat champion here since Davis Love, a five-time champion, won in both 1991 and 1992.

Weekley started his birdie binge at four by chipping in. At eight he rolled in a 25-foot putt.

“I got to feeling pretty good how I was putting the ball,” he said.

At nine Weekley got up and down from a bunker, and his only miscue was a bogey at 16.

Weekley extended his cushion with a five-foot birdie at 18.

“I’ll probably be a little nervous,” Weekley admitted of his first-ever 54-hole lead.

“But if you ask everybody having the lead going into the last day, they are all a little bit jittery.”
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