Submitted by CanTour Communications John Berkovich
SOUTH SURREY, B.C., - Adam Short charged out of the pack with an eight under par 64 Saturday to claim a share of the third round lead with Yohann Benson at the City of Surrey Invitational.
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Benson, with a bogey-free 66, joins Short at 12 under par 204.
One shot back are Brad Heaven who fired a 67 and second round co-leader Mike Grob with a 68.
Lurking two behind is Graham DeLaet after a 68 while Jose de Jesus Rodriguez is another shot back after a 69.
Still in the hunt at eight under par 208 are Ryan Carter (67), rookie Joe Greiner (66), and Chris Wall, Kris Wasylowich, and Zach Shriver, all of whom shot 68.
After making par at one and two, Short put on a shotmaking clinic with birdies from inside eight feet at three, four, five and nine.
"The third hole was basically a tap-in,” said Short, who reached the green in two. “Both four and five were from about eight feet and I had a three-footer at nine.”
Parring ten, the Vineland, Ont., resident began another three-birdie run at the eleventh to move to seven under on his round and 11 under for the tournament.
“A couple more tap-ins to start,” continued Short. “The longest one of the day was at thirteen when I got a 20-footer.”
The putt at No. 13 tied him for the lead at 11 under.
However, a bogey at the next, combined with Grob’s fifth birdie of the day at the ninth, moved Grob two shots clear of the field.
Aware of the leaderboard change, Short bore down and reclaimed his share of top spot with birdies at fifteen and sixteen, both par-three holes.
Landing 15 feet from the pin, he rapped home his eighth birdie of the afternoon and followed it with a chip-in at No. 16 after flying the green.
Cooling off after his hot opening nine, Grob lost the lead with a bogey at sixteen.
“A round like this has been lurking just below the surface, just under the skin,” concluded Short.
“I’ve been working really hard to have the same mental attitude and focus whether I am two over or six under on my round.
“It’s been a long road and it’s nice to see it come to fruition.”
Yohann Benson made easy work of the par five holes on the front nine, reaching both in two and two-putting for birdie at both from close in.
“It was just a typical Benson round, having fun,” said the laid-back Montreal native.
“I just focused on hitting fairways and greens like I always do. This course isn’t particularly demanding off the tee like last week.”
He did make what he called a good par save at the par-three eighth.
Pulling his drive long and left of the cart path, he was faced with a lengthy and delicate chip to a fast green. Making solid contact, Benson hit it to five feet and poured in the par putt.
Again taking advantage of the par five holes, he came up just short with his second to No. 11, chipped to three feet and drained his third birdie of the afternoon.
Like most in the field, he attempted to drive the green at 13. Although he came up short in the bunker, he blasted to three feet for another easy birdie.
“The fifteenth was a good one,” continued Benson. “I hit an 8-iron off the tee to six feet for birdie and at seventeen I hit a 54-degree wedge to two feet, basically kick-in range.”
“I don’t have any number in mind for tomorrow, just fairways and greens and we’ll see what happens.”
AMJ CAMPBELL MOVING DAY
2008 Rolex Player of the Year John Ellis got married on Saturday.
South Africa’s George Coetzee is not related to the famous South African boxer Gerrie Coetzee.
Three of the four frontrunners from yesterday had difficult third rounds. Derek Gillespie shot 73 to drop to T-19, Kent Eger’s 74 has him T-23. Greg McAuley shot 77 to slip to T-37.
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