Sweden’s Michael Jonzon was eyeing the chance to get his career back on track after taking a one-shot lead in the Castellon Masters third round on Saturday.
Jonzon, lying 158th on the European money-list and in danger of losing his playing card, kept tournament favorite Sergio Garcia in the shade with a six-under-par 65 to surge to 16-under-par 197.
Tournament host and defending champion Garcia (67) was a stroke behind, sharing second place with Germany’s Martin Kaymer (68).
PHOTO: EPA
The revelation of the day, though, was 20-year-old British rookie professional Sam Hutsby, who is playing on an invitation from Garcia.
The 20-year-old Englishman, runner-up in the British Amateur championship this year, finished only two shots off the pace in fourth place.
Hutsby shared the lead for much of the round, only dropping back from second place by bogeying the last for a 66 in his third event as a professional.
■ARIZONA OPEN
REUTERS, PHOENIX, ARIZONA
American Troy Matteson was close to disbelief after charging into a three-stroke lead in Saturday’s third round of the Arizona Open in Scottsdale.
For the second day in a row, the 29-year-old fired a sizzling nine-under-par 61 on the Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club to take control of the event.
Four shots off the pace overnight, Matteson delivered a master class with his pinpoint approach play, recording 10 birdies and a lone bogey for a 16-under total of 194.
He birdied four of the last five holes to end another day of unrelenting sunshine three ahead of compatriots Webb Simpson (64) and Chris Stroud (65) and South African Tim Clark (65).
Overnight leaders Greg Owen of Britain and Rickie Fowler of the US both slipped off the pace.
Owen, bidding for a maiden PGA title, briefly edged a stroke in front with a birdie at the second before tumbling backwards with five bogeys and a birdie for a 73 and a eight-under total.
Fowler, competing in only his second PGA Tour event as a professional, fared a little better by carding a topsy-turvy 69.
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