Oct 11, 2008 - 11:23 PM
0 shoutsSAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Rory Sabbatini and Zach Johnson roared into contention in Saturday's third round of the Texas Open.
Sabbatini signed for a 7-under-par 63 to take the lead while Johnson fired a flawless round of 8-under 62 to jump from a tie for 22nd to second.
With an eagle, six birdies and one bogey, Sabbatini posted a 54-hole total of 14-under 196. He has three rounds in the 60s so far at at La Cantera Golf Club's Resort Course.
"Obviously this golf course is not one that sets up very well when you're spraying it," Sabbatini said. "It punishes you pretty quickly and pretty harshly. But if you're hitting the driver and putting the drives in play you can actually make this course play pretty simply and I've been successful at doing that so far this week."
Johnson had the clubhouse lead at 13-under 197 when he finished his round.
Things started well for the 2007 Masters champion and got better throughout the day. Johnson birdied his first two holes and added three more on the front nine. He added three more birdies on the back nine, including one at No. 18 to extend his lead at the $4.5 million event.
"Today just more putts fell which was nice to see," Johnson said. "But I'm hitting it great. I'm hitting a lot of fairways. And then, you know, I'm getting the ball on the right side of the green to give myself an opportunity. I had plenty of opportunities out there. I'm not complaining. I'm encouraged."
Sabbatini started with a birdie and made the turn at 1-under for the day. He did most of his damage coming in, eagling the par-4 11th and added three consecutive birdies starting at No. 13. He finished with a birdie at 18 to take the outright lead.
"As I said to Kevin, my caddy, it's actually fun to be here when I actually know where I'm hitting the golf ball," Sabbatini said. "I'm just having a lot of fun with it because it's a great feeling and, you know, I'm really enjoying being on the golf course."
Tim Wilkinson, Tim Herron and Chris Stroud are three strokes back at 11-under 199. Wilkinson carded eight birdies and had just one bogey for a 63.
Herron carded a 67 and Stroud, who shot a 6-under 64 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead, managed a 69.
One of the oldest stops on the PGA Tour, the Texas Open is the third of seven Fall Series events on the schedule. The event will move to a spring date next season and be a part of a three-event tour swing through the Lone Star State.
Defending champion Justin Leonard barely made the cut but made a move in the third round with a 64. A Texas native, Leonard is at 7-under 203 and has a lot of work to do if he is to win his fourth title here.
First prize is $810,000.
