Howell, Ridings on top
VERONA — Charles Howell III arrived on the PGA Tour eight years ago out of Oklahoma State with impeccable amateur credentials and can't-miss pro potential.
With two wins to his credit, and a top-30 ranking on the tour in five of his first six seasons, the native of Augusta, Ga., appeared on his way to star status.
Yet, after winning the 2007 Nissan Open and leading the tour in money winnings the first two months of the season, Howell's game went south.
This season, Howell recorded only two top 10s and stood just 83rd on the money list before teeing it up in the $6 million Turning Stone Resort Championship this week.
All of a sudden, Howell has found his game. He began with a 1-under-par 71 on Thursday, but rebounded with a 68 on Friday and a 69 on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead with Tag Ridings at 8 under par.
"In my mind, I've underachieved on tour," said Howell after a birdie on 18 earned him a share of the top spot at Atunyote Golf Club. "Do I wish I had won more? Sure. It's been a case of not finishing off some Sunday rounds. But it certainly wasn't for lack of effort or work ethic."
Ridings held as much as a two-shot lead with two holes to play. But after a Howell birdie, Ridings finished with a disappointing bogey-6.
"I played a very solid 15 holes, and three poor ones," Ridings said. "That last putt I pulled a little. But I'm really pleased with my ball-striking and how I hung in there."
This is the fifth time in his career that Howell has held or shared the 54-hole lead and the first time Ridings has been in this position. They will tee off 1:45 p.m. today.
The leaders sat atop a big group of players still in contention. Five players were at 7 under par, including first- and second-round leader Jeff Overton, who shot a 1-over-par 73.
And another nine players were only five shots back, which should make for a stirring final day.
"With the greens so soft and receptive, I expect a real scramble tomorrow," said Howell, who made four birdies (1, 5, 12, 18) and only one bogey (7). "Whoever wins will make a slew of birdies."
Perhaps this is the week that Ridings breaks through. A nonwinner in five full years on the PGA Tour, the 34-year-old University of Arkansas graduate said he's happy to be in his position, but knows that the final 18 holes will not be easy.
"Playing with a pretty good friend in Charles will make it easier," he said. "He's a good dude and our families have been hanging around a lot this week. But there are so many guys in contention that can go deep."
More-benign weather conditions allowed the field average to fall to 71.123, almost 1 1/2 shots lower than the first two days. The wind was way down (8 mph) and it actually felt more like fall than winter after two days of brutal weather.
And because of the wet fairways, players were able to lift, clean and place their balls.
"The only problem was the greens got a little bumpy because they were so wet,"' said Howell. "But you could certainly fire at most pins."
Joining Overton at 7 under were Australian Jason Day (71), the tour's youngest player at age 20, Englishman Brian Davis (69) and Kyle Thompson (69).
Veteran Davis Love III made one of the day's biggest moves, vaulting from 38th to a tie for ninth. Starting the round at 1 over par, the 44-year-old shot a 6-under-par 66, the best round of the week. He birdied his first four holes by one-putting.
"I've been hitting the ball pretty good all week," said Love, who opened with a 75 and shot 70 on Friday. "The key today was I putted a lot better because I hit it a lot closer to the pin.''
Love hasn't won since taking the Chrysler Classic in Greensboro in 2006, and stands only 155th on this year's money list with no top 10s to his credit.
nNOTES:Twenty-three players returned to the course early Saturday to finish their second round after two weather delays on Friday. A total of 83 players made the 36-hole cut, which came at 4-over-par 148. Last year's cut was at 4-under-par 140. Because more than 78 played Saturday, a 54-hole cut was instituted, resulting in 71 players advancing to today's final round. ...Charles Warren(tied for ninth) shot a 6-under-par 30 on his back nine. That included two eagles, a 30-foot putt on No. 12 and a 123-yard hole-out on the 18th hole. ... The third-round leader or co-leader has gone on to win 21 of 41 stroke-play events this season on tour. ... Along with Ridings, other contenders seeking their first tour win are Thompson, Overton, Davis, Day andDustin Johnson(tied for seventh).
CREAMER RALLIES INTO LEAD
Paula Creamer birdied the final three holes for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke lead over Angela Stanford after the third round of the Samsung World Championship at Half Moon Bay, Calif.
Playing near her hometown of Pleasanton, Creamer had a 6-under 210 total on the Half Moon Bay Golf Links' Ocean Course.
Stanford led for much of the day but hurt herself with two double bogeys on the back nine. She birdied the final two holes for a 69. Australian Katherine Hull eagled No. 4 and also birdied 18 for a 69 to stay within two strokes of the lead on a day when birdies were hard to come by for everybody in the elite 20-player field.
Two-time defending Samsung champion Lorena Ochoa shot a 70, also leaving her two strokes back along with Song-Hee Kim (70). Ochoa is seeking her eighth victory of the year.
PAIR SHARES ST. ANDREWS LEAD
Sweden's Jarmo Sandelin shot an event-par 72 and Germany's Martin Kaymer had a 72, both at Carnoustie, in to share the third-round lead after another wet and windy day in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Sandelin and Kaymer had 6-under 210 totals after rounds at Kingsbarns, St. Andrews and Carnoustie. The final round will be played at St. Andrews.
KIM AHEAD BY ONE
South Korea's Kim Wi-joong shot a 2-under 69 to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of the Korea Open in Seoul, South Korea. Kim had a 10-under 203 total on the Woo Jeong Hills Country Club course.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
