Green holds on to one shot lead
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2007 John Deere Classic | Round Three | 15 Jul 2007
Nathan Green has maintained his one shot lead at the John Deere Classic after a third round of three under par 68 left him one ahead of South African Tim Clark.
After starting the day with a one shot lead, Green extended that to five at one stage in the front nine but two dropped shots early in his back nine and a run of birdies from Jonathan Byrd had Green actually sharing the lead at 14 under with Byrd as he walked to the 13th tee. Nathan holed from 15 feet there and then added another at the 14th when he got a little lucky with his tee shot but hit a great approach to 5 feet and moved two ahead again.
Clark was emerging from the ruck and when he birdied his last three holes and Green made bogey at the par five 17th from the middle of the fairway the margin was just one. Green narrowly missed his long range birdie putt at the last but takes his first third round lead into the final round of a PGA Tour event.
Both Green and Clark are looking for starts at next week’s Open Championship with the leading player inside the top ten of this event, not otherwise qualified for Carnoustie, getting a late start in Scotland. Clark has played in the last 15 major championships but has had injury issues this year precluding him from gaining a start at The Open.
Still that is likely the last thing on their minds as both players look to hold off a group of players on their heels in an endeavour to win the first PGA Tournament for either player. Jonathan Byrd is one behind Clark while Kenny Perry and Brian Gay are one further back.
The West Australian Michael Sim added a third round 68 to be in 13th position while Stephen Leaney added a third round 67 to be in 18th place at 7 under.
