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Wilson birdies last hole to grab Honda lead
2007-03-04
Mark Wilson birdied his last hole to take a one-shot lead over Boo Weekley into the final round of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens on Saturday. Wilson, who has just one top-three finish in 110 PGA Tour starts, remained on course to claim his first career title, carding the day's joint top round of four-under 66 at the PGA National for an aggregate of six-under 204. Weekley, also chasing his first maiden PGA win, matched Wilson with a 66 to sit alone at five-under 205 with Sweden's Daniel Chopra one shot further adrift after a 68. Since turning professional in 1997, Wilson has had to return to qualifying school each year to retain his playing privileges and would love nothing more than to avoid an 11th visit by securing a victory on Sunday. "It would be so cool to get that first place check or to win and be exempt," Wilson told reporters. "I go to Q-school every year, that's on my schedule. "So to win, I think that's the main thing, if I can walk off that green and know that I'll be exempt through 2009 would be just a great feeling. "But it's more about just the journey and enjoying the whole journey that I've gone on. "I'm just going to go out there and give it my best." South Korea's Charlie Wi, who shared the second-round lead with Australia's Robert Allenby, struggled to a two-over 72 but still remained in contention just three shots off the lead alongside Steve Stricker (70) on three-under 207. Allenby, who held one shot lead at the turn, had a disastrous back nine with back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13 and a double bogey at the par four 16th to send him tumbling down the leaderboard with a three-over 73, four off the pace heading into the final round. Padraig Harrington, who claimed his maiden PGA Tour win at the Honda in 2005, moved into contention for a second title with a level-par 70 to headline a group of six players at one-under 209. But the Irishman will be lamenting missed opportunities, dropping shots on two of his final three holes including a bogey at the last to leave him five off the pace. World number two Jim Furyk was unable to mount a charge, signing for a three-over 73 to slip to three-over 213. Defending champion Luke Donald of Britain endured another miserable day, the world number 10 starting smartly with an early birdie. His round unraveled with three bogeys on the back nine for a two-over 72 to fall 12 strokes off the lead.
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