Stricker overtakes Perez at Bob Hope
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic | Round Four | 25 Jan 2009
Yet another brilliant round by Steve Stricker has seen the 41-year-old overtake long time leader, Pat Perez, to lead by three shots heading into the final day of the Bob Hope Classic in Palm Desert California.
Playing at the Nicklaus Private course on day four, Stricker birdied six of his last seven holes to move past Perez who had led since his opening round of 61 and establish not only a three shot lead over Perez, but seven shots over third placed Robert Garrigus, Vaughn Taylor and Bubba Watson.
Stricker, who last played the Bob Hope Classic in 2004 and who has not enjoyed a lot of success previously in the event, has played his last two rounds in an amazing total of 123 and appears on the verge of his 5th USPGA Tour title.
Mathew Goggin is the best placed Australian in 12th position at 23 under par, a massive ten shots behind the leader, John Senden has made up a lot of ground with consecutive rounds of 65 and 64 to be in 18th position and Peter Lonard is 39th at 19 under.
Steve Elkington, James Nitties, Greg Chalmers, Jarrod Lyle, Nathan Green and New Zealander Tim Wilkinson all missed the 72 hole cut.
For James Nitties however this was a day to remember. In just his second start on the PGA Tour he produced a round of 62 to get within one of making the cut, a performance that will give him a significant boost of confidence as he heads to the next week’s FRB Open in Phoenix.
The tournament returns to the Palmer private course for tomorrow’s final round.
