Paul Azinger, bidding for
his first victory since the 1993 PGA Championship, shot a 2-under 68 today 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.
Azinger, a three-time runnerup
who had five other top 10 finishes when this tournament was known as the Hawaiian
Open, bogeyed two of the first four holes. His slip allowed 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.
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.
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.
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.
