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Raining on the parade Despite light showers Azinger holds lead at Sony Open
Posted: Saturday January 15, 2000 11:46 PM
HONOLULU (AP) -- Winless for so long, Paul Azinger is making sure he does not celebrate too early. Azinger, bidding for his first victory since the 1993 PGA Championship, shot a 2-under 68 Saturday and held a five-stroke lead over Jesper Parnevik and Stuart Appleby after three rounds of the $2.9 million Sony Open. Azinger was diagnosed with lymphoma in December 1993 and missed most of the next season. "The fact that I'm five ahead is an enviable spot, but it doesn't mean it is insurmountable," he said "I know what it takes. I've done it a bunch of times. There's a bunch of young lions behind me and they are not just going to let me win," he said. A victory in the $2.9 million event would also erase a nagging doubt about being able to win in Hawaii. When the tournament was known as the Hawaiian Open, he was a three-time runnerup who had five other top 10 finishes. He got off to a slow start in the third round with bogeys on two of the first four holes, allowing John Huston to narrow the margin to two strokes through the first seven holes. But Azinger ran off birdies on the par-3 eighth and 11th, as well as the 510-yard 10th, to stay ahead of the field. At the 54-hole mark, he was at 14-under 196. "Regardless of how I started, I didn't let it change my play," Azinger said. "I felt like even 2-under would be a really good round. Parnevik, who started the day seven strokes behind Azinger, closed with birdies on the last two holes for a 4-under 66. He's at 201 with Appleby, who shot a 68. Parnevik said he was looking forward to teeing it up with Azinger for the final round. "Under circumstances like this, when there's only one guy who's running away with it, it helps to play with him on Sunday," Parnevik said. Appleby, who started the day sharing second with Huston and Jim Furyk, birdied the final two holes. Huston, meanwhile, faded to finish with a 70. He is tied with Jerry Kelly, who carded a 71, at 203. Tom Lehman made the day's biggest jump, shooting a 5-under 65 to climb into a third-place tie with Scott Dunlap at 202. Lehman wants to win, but said even he's pulling for Azinger. "I think everybody's been pulling for Paul since his comeback from the cancer," Lehman said. "Nobody's going to give it to him, but we'd all be very, very, very happy for him should he win." It wasn't a good day for Furyk at the windy Waialae Country Club course. He bogeyed five of the first eight holes and finished with a 73. Defending champion Jeff Sluman dropped three strokes and was at 207. Ernie Els and Jeff Maggert were at 204 with Sean Murphy another stroke behind. Two Japan PGA Tour players, Shigeki Maruyama and Kaname Yokoo, were among those at 4-under 206.
Gary Nicklaus, son of Jack Nicklaus, shot a 72 to reach the 54-hole mark at 211.
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