Shigeki Maruyama, the second-round leader, started Saturday’s round with a double bogey. He got it all back three holes later with a hole-in-one. Maruyama shot a 68 to retain his one-stroke lead going into the final round of the 2005 Sony Open.
In hot pursuit, one stroke back, is Brett Quigley, nephew of Champions Tour player Dana Quigley. Brett remains winless in 220 starts on the PGA Tour, but has fired three consecutive sub-par rounds of 66, 67, 68. Will a 69 on Sunday be good enough to win if the trend continues? My numerology advisor says no. (No, I don’t have a numerology advisor!)
Another stroke back in third, the Zinger, Paul Azinger. Winner of the 2000 Sony Open, Azinger’s low-ball shotmaking enabled him to shoot a 67. The low round of the day among the leaders belongs to Charles Howell III, who fired a 64 to get himself into a tie for sixth at -6, four strokes back. Seven other players, including Vijay Singh (who pretty much plays every week, yes) are within five shots of the lead.
Ernie Els will likely not repeat, and was forced to rally on the back nine Saturday to shoot even par 70. He’s at -1.
Pos Name Tot R1 R2 R3 Total 1 Shigeki Maruyama -10 67 65 68 200 2 Brett Quigley -9 66 67 68 201 3 Paul Azinger -8 67 68 67 202 T4 Larry Mize -7 70 69 64 203 T4 Robert Gamez -7 69 66 68 203 T6 Charles Howell III -6 70 70 64 204 T6 Vijay Singh -6 69 68 67 204 T8 Bart Bryant -5 70 69 66 205 T8 Adam Scott -5 71 65 69 205 T8 Tom Lehman -5 67 68 70 205 T8 Justin Rose -5 67 66 72 205
I’ll be rooting for Paul Azinger. The man’s won a major championship, been on four Ryder Cups, beaten cancer, and is still kickin’. If he wins, he’ll be exempt for two years and can play around his broadcasting schedule. Nothing against Maruyama or Quigley, but Azinger’s my guy this Sunday.