Appleby one off the pace at Firestone
BY iseekgolf.com | US PGA Tour | 2008 Bridgestone Invitational | Round Three | 03 Aug 2008
Stuart Appleby will make his bid for his first WGC title when he heads into tomorrow’s final round just one shot off the lead at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Appleby’s third round 3 under 67 saw him finish the third day one shot behind a three way tie for the lead held by leaders Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and England’s Lee Westwood.
“I played well. Just hit the ball nice, drove it in the fairway, which was critical today with the conditions of the wind to keep minimizing your mistakes on second shots,” said Appleby. “I had a few long putts out there, but just I played well, really proper, solid golf, and stuff like I’d like to be playing for more years yet.”
Appleby started the day with three birdies on his first seven holes before tripping with bogeys on the 8th and 9th. He picked up another shot at the 12th and came home with a wet sail, birdying the 18th to set himself up one shot behind the leading trio.
Appleby was pleased with his round and the way he has come back from a five over front nine on the first day of the event. He attributed the recovery to refocusing and relaxing which has shown in all facets of his game the past two days.
“When you normally waste a couple shots, sometimes you can think yourself out of the tournament, but when you waste five you think you’ve made a whole mess of it,” said the 37 year old. To know I haven’t leaves me in good stead for tomorrow maybe.”
In a history making honour, Appleby is currently the only player to have played in every WGC event (29) since its inception and would love nothing more than to add the Bridgestone trophy to his cabinet alongside his playing record. His best finish at a WGC event is T2 at the 2003 CA Championship.
“I know I’m not likely to catch one particular gentleman by winning a lot of them,” he conceded, “but I certainly would be disappointed if I couldn’t get my own – more than memento piece of Waterford or Wedgwood stuff. I’ve seen Tiger hold so many, it would be nice to hold one up. I’m certainly overdue. I’ve been a long time doing this, so it would be nice.”
Yesterday’s solid performer Peter Lonard had a disappointing third round finishing at two over par after two bogeys in his final five holes. Lonard started the day just two shots off the lead after an impressive four under 66 in yesterdays round but couldn’t follow up with just one birdie in his round today. He slipped to three under for the event but is just four shots off the leaders.
Nick O’Hern was steady but a bogey at the 18th saw shoot one over for the day and to one under for the tournament.
Brendan Jones and Robert Allenby were shot one under and even par respectively and have finished the third round at one over.
Aaron Baddeley’s form continued to improve after a disastrous 9 over 79 on day one. He had a ten shot better round on Friday shooting a one under 69 and finished today with a 4 under 66 to move to four over for the tournament.
The news wasn’t so good for Geoff Ogilvy who couldn’t miss a trick today. A round littered by nine bogeys saw the Aussie tumble from two under at the start of the day, to shoot a round of seven over to end at nine under at the conclusion of round three.
Play starts tomorrow at 7:40pm with the leaders teeing off at 2:10pm. Stuart Appleby will tee off in the second last group alongside Phil Mickelson at 2:00pm.
Source – PGA Tour
