Micheel draws three shots clear

Shaun Micheel knew he couldn't win the B.C. Open on Saturday. But he put himself in position for his first career PGA Tour victory.

Micheel finished his second round with a bang, then shot a 5-under-par 67 on Saturday afternoon to maintain a three-shot lead with 18 holes to go at the En-Joie Golf Club.

Winless in three years on the PGA Tour, Micheel recorded a hole-in-one and a birdie Saturday morning to finish off a second straight 65. It gave him a three-stroke cushion that he protected with an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in the afternoon.

"It was a nice thing to have happen to me today to finish the second round," Micheel said. "I'm glad the day's over. Hopefully, I can go out and make some early birdies tomorrow and separate myself some. I wasn't going to win the tournament today."

A 33-year-old graduate of the Buy.com Tour, Micheel's 19-under 197 is the lowest 54-hole score at this event since 1996. He is within range of the 72-hole record of 265 set in 1982 by Calvin Peete.

"I've never led after three days on this tour," said Micheel, who has a pair of fifth-place ties for his best PGA finishes. "I think I led or was tied for the lead on the Buy.com Tour when I won."

Australian Paul Gow matched Micheel's 67, closing with a birdie to get to 16-under 200 and within three strokes.

"It will be interesting to see what happens," said Gow, another Buy.com product who is seeking his first PGA Tour win. "I'm going to try to come out of the blocks as hard as I can. ... I'll be looking at the leaderboard a lot tomorrow. Someone can come out and go nuts tomorrow."

Rookie Matt Peterson fired a 6-under 66 to move into a tie for third at 203 with Tripp Isenhour, Glen Day and 1996 champion Fred Funk.

Micheel completed 15 holes Friday when play was suspended due to darkness. He was back on the course Saturday morning and made a five-foot birdie putt at the par-4 16th hole. Using a 7-iron, he aced the 162-yard 17th.

The momentum did not carry into the third round as Micheel bogeyed the par-4 first hole. It turned out to be his only mistake of the day as he bounced back with a birdie at the second hole. He made three 20-foot putts for an eagle at the 565-yard fifth and birdies at the par-4 sixth and ninth holes.

"I seem to like the front nine," Micheel said. "I'm either going to play well or not tomorrow, but I think I'll play well. I've been putting well lately."

A 12-foot birdie putt at the 545-yard 12th hole interrupted a run of eight pars but was good enough to keep Micheel on top.

"Shaun played well on the front and got off to a good start," offered Gow, who made three birdies on each side around a bogey at the fifth hole.

First prize is $378,000 and the total purse of $2.1 million is the smallest on the PGA Tour.

The En-Joie Golf Club is a par-72 layout measuring 6,974 yards. The tournament is named in honor of Endicott native Johnny Hart, creator of the syndicated cartoon strip "B.C."

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page