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Ryan Palmer watches his chip shot on the 18th hole at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Palm Coast Fla. Palmer finished the day one shot off the lead.
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Published: November 2, 2008
Letzig leads by 1 in Ginn sur Mer
Ginn sur Mer Classic: Even after two bogeys wiped out his cushion, Ryan Palmer continued to play aggressively until he no longer had any lead at all yesterday in Palm Coast, Fla.
Palmer hit driver off the deck and into the water on the par-5 18th, turning the lead over to rookie Michael Letzig at the Ginn Ocean Hammock Resort.
Palmer bogeyed three of the last four holes to open the door for Letzig, who had a much stronger finish. Letzig birdied three of his last six holes for a 2-under 70, giving him a one-shot lead going into the final round.
"I've been playing so well the first couple of days, and today I lost that feeling a little bit," Letzig said. "But you've got to hang in there and when you do get those chances for birdie, make a few."
He made enough to finish at 7-under-par 209 and take his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour.
Letzig was one shot ahead of Kenneth Ferrie (67), John Huston (70) and Palmer, who was 9 under through 14 holes but had to settle for a 72 that still left him in good shape.
David Duval, who was within two shots of the lead going into the third round, took a double bogey on his third hole and never got anything going on his way to a 74, leaving him in a tie for 14th.
Ferrie, Huston and Palmer all are outside the top 125 on the money list, with the season ending next week at Disney.
Palmer, who won at Disney four years ago but faces a return to Q-school if he doesn't finish his season strong, still likes his chances despite a sloppy finish. He is at No. 143 on the money list.
"I got a little aggressive and tried to force it on No. 18," Palmer said. "I have hit that shot a bunch. I can hit that driver off the ground from anywhere. I hit it solid, just kind of pulled it a little. It was a roller-coaster day."
A dozen players were within four shots of the lead, including Mark Wilson and Ken Duke at 5-under 211, and Robert Allenby, J.J. Henry and Vaughn Taylor at 4 under.
"Everybody is going to be fighting tomorrow, and I am pretty positive about my chances," Palmer said.
Letzig's job is safe for next year. A true rookie — he had never played a PGA Tour event until this year — has three top 10s already this year and is at No. 109 on the money list.
Ferrie hasn't made much noise since playing in the final group with Phil Mickelson in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot. He has made the cut in only 11 of his 23 events this season, but his six birdies yesterday put him on the cusp of winning.
"I feel like I've played really well," Ferrie said. "I've worked hard on my game. I've got it in the place I want it to be."
Huston could be the mystery in the final round. He has not won in five years, has played a limited schedule over the past couple of years but is right at home in Florida.
Charles Schwab Cup: Heavy rains forced the postponement of the third round yesterday in Sonoma, Calif.
Play was suspended at the Champions Tour's season-ending event for more 31/2 hours before officials made the decision to delay the remainder of the tournament until today. Only a handful of players had made the turn, with second-round leader Andy Bean playing four holes when play was halted.
Rain was expected to continue through the evening but the forecast calls for scattered showers today.
LPGA Kolon Championship: In-Kyung Kim sank a 45-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 3-under 69, taking a one-shot lead after the second round yesterday in Incheon, South Korea.
Kim shot a bogey-free round and totaled 5-under-par 139 heading into today's finale of the 54-hole event.
She leads Hee-Won Han of South Korea (69) and Karen Stupples of England (70), who had four birdies in her opening 10 holes.
Katherine Hull of Australia, who led by two shots after the opening round, struggled with a 76 and fell three strokes back. Hull had an opening-round 66.
American Paula Creamer had a bogey-free round of 69 to trail by five shots. Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway also shot a bogey-free 69, seven shots off the lead.
Volvo Masters: Lee Westwood trailed co-leaders Soren Kjeldsen and Sergio Garcia by one stroke when heavy rain stopped play for the second straight day yesterday in Sotogrande, Spain.
Westwood was at par through six holes during the third round, leaving him at 4 under before showers hit Valderrama. Westwood won the European money title eight years ago and can overtake Order of Merit leader Robert Karlsson by winning the tournament. Karlsson was in 28th place at 6 over.
Padraig Harrington, another Order of Merit contender, was 2 over after 11 holes.
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