Associated Press
Saturday, March 11
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Robert Gamez is bidding for his first PGA Tour title in 10 years. Jim Furyk seeks his second win in a week. Both will chase a trio unaccustomed to contention in Sunday's final round of the Honda Classic.
J.P. Hayes, a winner once in his eight-year career, topped the leaderboard for the second day in a row Saturday at 16-under-par 200, matching the tournament record for three rounds.
Jonathan Kaye and Brian Gay, both seeking their first PGA Tour
title, were tied for second at 14 under.
But no one sounded more confident than Gamez, mounting a career
comeback from a 1998 car crash, and Furyk, winner of the
Doral-Ryder Open last Sunday. Both were at 12 under.
With only six of the world's top 30 players entered, the lack of
star power among the leaders wasn't a surprise. Hayes, winner of
the 1998 Buick Classic, will play in the final threesome Sunday
with Kaye and Gay.
"I don't think they're looking at me as someone who really is
intimidating or a guy who knows how to win," said Hayes, who sank
four birdie putts of at least 20 feet Saturday en route to a
4-under-par 68. "We're pretty much all in the same boat."
They'll have to hold off the red-hot Furyk, who moved into
contention with a 65, and the hungry Gamez, who believes his game
is finally on the upswing after a long drought.
Gamez earned two tournament titles as a rookie in 1990, but
hasn't won since. He has struggled to recover from a car accident
at the 1998 Kemper Open that sent him to the hospital with back,
hand, neck and liver injuries.
"I started feeling healthy at the end of last year, and that
really gave me the opportunity to practice the way I used to
practice," he said.
Gamez fell to 208th on the money list last year, his worst
ranking since his rookie season. But he has shown improvement in
his past three tournaments, finishing 16th, 41st and 25th.
"I always thought I could play well enough to win," he said.
"Even when I was hurt, I never lost confidence in that. I'm really
looking forward to Sunday."
Furyk is also optimistic. He won at Doral by coming from six
shots back with seven holes to play.
"Last week I played super, and the best I've ever played under
pressure was the last nine holes," Furyk said. "To do that under
the gun when you have to hit the best shots definitely gives you a
lot of confidence."
Given the steady wind that blows across the Heron Bay course,
Furyk and Gamez should be within striking distance. Vijay Singh
came from five shots back on Sunday to win Honda last year.
The wind Saturday got the best of Australian amateur Aaron
Baddeley, who shot 73 and slipped to 6 under. Davis Love III, the
highest-ranked player in the event, shot 75 and fell out of
contention at 4 under.
Stuart Appleby, the 1997 champion, took a double-bogey at 18 and
settled for a 68 that left him in a group at 11 under.
Divots
Jack Nicklaus, walking outside the ropes and lugging an
umbrella, followed his son, Gary, around the course. Gary, helped
by an eagle, shot 68 and was 9-under.
The 5-foot-9 Gamez has lost 17 pounds and 2½ inches in his waist since the first of the year.
Saturday, March 11
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. -- Robert Gamez is bidding for his first PGA Tour title in 10 years. Jim Furyk seeks his second win in a week. Both will chase a trio unaccustomed to contention in Sunday's final round of the Honda Classic.
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| J.P. Hayes holds a two-shot lead after three rounds. |
