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Calcavecchia surges into tie for Tampa Bay lead
2007-03-11
Mark Calcavecchia equaled the course record with a blistering nine-under-par 62 before ending the Tampa Bay Championship third round tied for the lead with fellow American Heath Slocum on Saturday. The 46-year-old Calcavecchia, helped by a putter he bought last week for $256, rattled up 10 birdies and a lone bogey in bright sunshine at the Westin Innisbrook Resort to set the early pace at nine-under 204. Slocum, playing in the final group of the day, rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the last for a 67 to join his compatriot at the top of a congested leaderboard. Twice champion K.J. Choi of South Korea, who surged to a four-shot victory at Innisbrook last year, was alone in third place at eight under after carding a flawless, four-birdie 67. U.S. Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco (69) was a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with fellow Americans Brian Gay (66), Lucas Glover (67) and Pat Perez (69). Calcavecchia, bidding for his 13th PGA Tour title, birdied five of the first six holes on the demanding Copperhead Course before dropping his only shot of the day at the par-three eighth. The 1989 British Open champion made five more birdies after the turn, signing off in style by rolling in a downhill 20-footer at the par-four 18th. TOURNAMENT RECORD "I hit it pretty good on the range and I felt the best today physically that I felt all week," Calcavecchia told reporters after matching the tournament-record 62 fired by Jeff Sluman in the opening round in 2004. "I really had an inkling I was going to play pretty well after the second hole. "Two perfect shots on two, and I made about a 12-footer there. After that hole, I knew I wasn't going to hit too many bad shots based on the way I felt, and the way my putter felt again. "I gained some confidence with it for sure. I certainly didn't know I was going to do this (equal the course record), but it's a nice surprise for myself." Australia's Stephen Leaney, one stroke clear overnight, slipped back to five under after bogeying two of the first nine holes en route to a 72. World number nine Vijay Singh, the highest-ranked player in the field, was a further four strokes adrift after also shooting a 72. (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Indian Wells, California)
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