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LOS ANGELES: Phil Mickelson posted a one-under 71 here Saturday to
hang onto a one-shot lead after three rounds of the $6.2-million
Northern Trust Open.
Mickelson’s 11-under total of 202 put him one
in front of fellow American Jeff Quinney, whose 67 for 203 included
a hole-in-one.
“It was a more difficult day than in the past
because the pin placements were a little tougher and the greens were
a little firmer, harder to get it close,” Mickelson said.
“I felt like anything in the 60s was going to
be a good round. I was close to doing that.”
Mickelson started the round with a four-shot
lead, but Quinney, boosted by his ace, gained ground early.
He took the lead briefly with his hole in one at
the 163-yard, sixth hole, where Mickelson responded with a six-foot
birdie to regain a share of the lead.
“It was kind of foggy,” Quinney said. “I
hit the shot and I was kind of walking away, and I think Phil was
walking in behind me.”
“I knew it was trickling back to the hole but
I don’t think I actually saw it fall in the cup. It was more the
crowd reaction by the green.”
Quinney had birdied the first and fifth while
Mickelson birdied the fourth as Mickelson’s lead dwindled to one
shot.
Mickelson pulled away again with back-to-back
birdies on 10 and 11, while Quinney bogeyed 11.
Quinney had a chance to narrow the gap at the
par-three 16, where Mickelson missed the green, but Quinney also
missed the green.
Both came away with bogeys, but Quinney did
birdie the last to go into the final round just one shot back.
American John Rollins was in third after a 69
for 207, while Australian Stuart Appleby (69) led a trio of players
on 208.
-- AFP
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