Sport

Weir soars into lead with birdie burst

US GOLF: Canada's Mike Weir soared to the lead of the $3

Mon Mar 11 2002 - 00:00

US GOLF: Canada's Mike Weir soared to the lead of the $3.5 million PGA Honda Classic on the wings of morning birdies yesterday, firing three in eight holes to complete the darkness-halted third round.

Weir will begin the final round at 16-under par 200 with a one-stroke edge on Joey Sindelar and a two-stroke lead over Brett Wetterich, who played his final seven holes of the round yesterday morning at level par.

Play was disrupted on Thursday by rain and leaders did not tee off for the third round until late Saturday afternoon, barely getting them onto the back nine before darkness halted play. Weir completed a five-under 67 round while Sindelar finished the third round at 66 and Wetterich completed a round of 68.

Sharing third at 203 as the final round began were Americans Brett Quigley, Matt Kuchar and Stephen Gangluff. Seven others, including Phil Mickelson, stood on 204 and another seven, including Australia's Rodney Pampling, were on 205.

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Ranked 12th in the world, Weir completed a 66 early on Saturday, then went three-under over 10 holes of the third round.

"You have to make birdies otherwise you are going to get lapped," said Weir, who's the only player in the top eight with a win since 1990. Weir's best result in six starts this season was a tie for 14th at the season-opening Mercedes Championships.

While several players on or near the leaderboard are considered long shots, Wetterich is the definition of one. The Cincinnati-born golfer has never finished better than 63rd in a PGA tour event and has a medical exemption after undergoing wrist surgery in January of last year.

THIRD ROUND SCORES: (USA unless noted): 200 - M Weir (Can) 68-65-67. 201 - J Sindelar 68-67-66. 202 - B Wetterich 68-66-68. 203 - S Gangluff 72-66-65, M Kuchar 68-69-66, B Quigley 70-66-67. 204 - C Riley 69-68-67, J Kelly 69-70-65, Pl Mickelson 70-66-68, J. Lewis 68-68-68, B Faxon 65-70-69, D Hart 67-68-69, J Riegger 63-69-72. 205 - B Schwarzrock 72-66-67, F Couples 68-70-67, B Andrade 68-70-67, L Porter 72-65-68, C Franco (Par) 70-69-66, T Herron 69-67-69, R Pampling (Aus) 67-67-71. 206 - P Lonard (Aus) 70-65-71. 207 - G Ogilvy (Aus) 69-68-70, F Allem (Rsa) 67-70-70, P Casey (br) 68-66-73. 208 - F Nobilo (Nzl) 71-68-69, P-U Johansson (Swe) 67-69-72, Al Cabrera (Arg) 70-70-68, G Chalmers (Aus) 69-71-68. 209 - R Goosen (Rsa) 71-66-72, B Langer (Ger) 68-71-70.