Strong finish keeps Holmes in FBR lead
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2008 FBR Open | Round Three | 03 Feb 2008
The 2006 champion, J.B. Holmes provided further evidence of his comfort zone at the TPC Scottsdale when he added a third round of 66 to retain his lead at the FBR Open.
Holmes, who won here in just his 6th PGA Tour event, takes a two shot lead into day four over Jonathan Byrd and Charles Warren but he will not be resting easy as ten players are within four shots of his lead.
Holmes birdied three of his last six holes to head off his fellow second round leader, Byrd, while Warren bogeyed the last to lose outright second place heading into the final day. That trio will however play in the final group of the day, with tee times brought forward to avoid a clash with the Super Bowl being played at the nearby University of Phoenix.
Nick O’Hern improved from 6th to 4th and stayed very much in touch of his first PGA Tour victory, his round of 68 enhanced by two late birdies. O’Hern shares 4th place with Ben Crane while amongst those in the group just one behind are the inform Justin Leonard and the two time winner, Phil Mickelson.
Steve Elkington is at eight under and in 17th place while Stephen Leaney, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby are next best of the Australians in 23rd position.
