Manwatu golfer Tim Wilkinson is just two strokes off the lead after three rounds of the latest PGA tour event in Puerto Rico.
Tim Wilkinson Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Following rounds of 71 and 63, Wilkinson carded a three-under par 69 today in Rio Grande to be 13-under for the tournament.
American Chris Stroud took a one-stroke at the Puerto Rico Open, declaring it was time to win a PGA Tour event.
Stroud, winless in 276 starts on tour, has come close with a playoff loss in Hartford in 2013, but has never lifted a trophy.
Despite career earnings of nearly $10 million, he is far from satisfied.
"I feel like I'm way overdue, the 35-year-old Texan told Golf Channel after making birdie at the par-five 18th for a five-under-par 67 at Coco Beach.
"At this point I've got experience on my side. I was very calm today. Nothing really freaks me out."
Stroud, at 15-under 201, heads fellow Americans D.A. Points (69) and Bill Lunde (69) by one stroke, with six others two strokes behind.
With such a tightly-bunched leaderboard, Stroud knows he will need to attack on Sunday to have a chance of winning.
"I'm going to try to get to 20-under or more, he said. With these conditions you've got to make a lot of birdies. It's not one of those golf courses you can sit around and make pars.
Wilkinson's fellow New Zealanders, Danny Lee carded a third round 72 to stay at five-under for the event while Steven Alker's 71 moved him to four-under par.
With nearly all of the game's top players competing at the WGC-Dell Match Play in Austin, a weak field at the Puerto Rico could provide a springboard to success for the eventual winner, though the champion will not receive an invitation to the Masters next month.
- Reuters.
