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Coceres opens three shot
lead
Jose Coceres battled his
English more than the course Saturday, and was happy to do so.
The Argentine shot an 8-under-par
64 for a three-shot lead over Davis Love III after three rounds at the National
Car Rental Golf Classic.
Just 18 holes from his second
title of the year and career, Coceres is at 19-under 197 at a tournament that
is played in the shadows of Disney World.
Love, the fifth-ranked player
in the world who has battled a disk problem in his neck, shot a 67 and is alone
in second at 16-under 200 as he seeks his second win of the year.
Four of the top eight players
in the world are in the top 10.
Top-ranked Tiger Woods is
tied for 10th, with No. 8 David Toms and Jesper Parnevik of Sweden at 203. No.
6 Vijay Singh of Fiji is with Australian Stuart Appleby and Scott McCarron at
201.
Coceres is just 40th in
the world, but he's on top, thanks to his second straight bogey-free round at
the Magnolia Golf Course.
"In this moment, my
feeling is very good," said Coceres, who has played primarily on the PGA
Tour for the first time, winning the Worldcom Classic at Hilton Head in April.
"Confidence is very good."
Coceres seemed confident
early in his third round as he birdied Nos. 2-4. He also had birdies at the eighth,
10th, 12th, 16th and 18th, sinking seven putts of at least 10 feet.
"This week, I have
played very good with the putter," said the 38-year-old Coceres, who is one
of 11 children.
"At Hilton Head, you've
got to putt good there, too," said Love, who played with Coceres on Saturday.
"He was pretty steady. Never really got in trouble and made a whole lot of
putts. That is a good combination."
Coceres has played well
in spots this year. He won in Hilton Head, where he had rounds of 68-70-64-71
and outlasted Billy Mayfair in a playoff.
Coceres' life has changed
considerably since his April triumph, even though he has failed to finish better
than 12th in 13 starts since.
"This is very good
for me," said Coceres, who received a two-year exemption for his title. "Very
happy for me, for my friends, for my family, for me the best, because I stay here
and play here on this tour, playing the best players in the world."
After going over his round
in detail, Coceres thanked the media.
"Sorry for my English,"
he said. "Maybe next year (it will be) better."
Love will have to better
than he has been in the final round of this event. In 1998, he led in the third
round but finished a stroke behind John Huston.
"I played pretty good
every day, kind of steady," said Love, who claimed his 14th career title
in February. "Maybe it is my turn for a real hot round tomorrow."
Love started hot Saturday,
rolling in a short birdie putt at the first hole. He also eagled the fourth and
played the first 12 in 5-under before dropping a stroke at the 14th.
"I let a stroke or
two get away everyday," he said. "Probably like everybody else."
Love got back the stroke
with a short birdie putt at the 16th, which gave him sole possession of second
-- three shots behind Coceres.
"It is a good position,"
said Love, who snapped a 63-event title drought at Pebble Beach. "I am excited
about having a chance."
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