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Mark Calcavecchia clings on to one shot lead
Mark Calcavecchia held on to a one-shot lead after fellow American Craig Barlow and Sweden's Jesper Parnevik mounted late charges in the third round of the Canadian Open on Saturday.
Chasing his first title since 2001, Calcavecchia began the day with a five-shot cushion but watched his advantage slip away after slumping to a two-over-par 72 in cool, sunny conditions at the Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.
The 1989 British Open champion had just two blemishes on his card with bogeys at the ninth and 10th but completed his round without a birdie to finish at six-under 204 at the top of a tightly bunched leaderboard.
"I made no birdies and I'm in a bit of a state of shock," said Calcavecchia, winner of 11 career titles. "That never happens to me, I can usually scrape one or two together.
"The good news about making no birdies today is that it can't possibly happen two days in a row."
Having opened with a pair of 70s, Barlow rocketed into contention with an eagle and an ace on the last five holes for a 65 and a 54-hole total of five-under 205.
The 33-year-old American began his day with back-to-back bogeys but ended it in dramatic style. He holed a six-foot eagle putt at the par-four 14th, birdied 15 and holed out at the 17th to finish a stroke behind Calcavecchia in a tie for second.
"I hit a perfect shot on 17, I'm thrilled to death it went in," said Barlow. "When it left the club, I knew it was a good shot."
Parnevik also saved his best for late on, two birdies and an eagle-three in his last eight holes helping him to a 67 and a share of second with Barlow.
American rookie Ryan Moore, the 2004 U.S. Amateur champion, also made a significant move, firing a 67 to finish a further stroke back in fourth at four-under 206.
Defending champion Vijay Singh returned a 68 to share fifth place at three under with American Jerry Kelly (69), Britain's Brian Davis (66) and Canada's Stephen Ames, whose bogey-free 64 was the best round of the day and matched the course record.
The only one of 16 Canadians to survive the cut, Ames was 11 strokes off the pace overnight but surged into contention with a sizzling first nine that included four consecutive birdies.
"For me right now, being a Canadian and having an opportunity of winning the Canadian Open, or any other PGA Tour event, would be a great feat at this stage," said Ames.
"It was wonderful. I was just fortunate enough to be the only Canadian in the group left and also fortunate to put on a show like I did today."
Born and raised in Trinidad, Ames has toiled in the shadow of Mike Weir, who became a national sporting hero when he captured the 2003 U.S. Masters.
With Weir missing the cut, however, the galleries have thrown their support behind Ames who has put himself in position to become the first Canadian winner of the event since Pat Fletcher in 1954.
The biggest fan among the large crowds following Ames was his wife Jodi, who followed her husband for the first time since having surgery in July after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
"It's a relief to see her," said Ames. "Obviously the fact she's out walking around and following me again like she did in the past has been a big weight taken off my shoulders.
"Life is a bit easier not worrying about the future of where the family is going to be or what is happening in the future."
Mark Calcavecchia 65-67-72-204
Craig Barlow 70-70-65-205
Jesper Parnevik 66-72-67-205
Ryan Moore 69-70-67-206
Brian Davis 70-71-66-207
Stephen Ames 73-70-64-207
Vijay Singh 73-66-68-207
Jerry Kelly 72-66-69-207
Bob Heintz 68-70-70-208
Carlos Franco 68-70-70-208
Kevin Na 70-72-67-209
Michael Harris 72-70-67-209
Trevor Immelman 71-68-70-209
Rory Sabbatini 73-68-69-210
Joey Sindelar 70-71-69-210
Briny Baird 70-72-68-210
Ben Crane 74-66-70-210
Franklin Langham 72-70-69-211
John Huston 69-72-70-211
Billy Andrade 70-73-68-211
Chris DiMarco 70-73-68-211
Tommy Armour III 70-71-70-211
Joey Snyder III 71-69-71-211
Scott McCarron 68-72-71-211
Tom Pernice, Jr. 68-72-71-211
Ted Purdy 67-72-72-211
Matt Kuchar 72-67-72-211
Lucas Glover 65-72-74-211
Steve Collins 73-69-70-212
Mario Tiziani 73-69-70-212
Jeff Hart 69-72-71-212
James H. McLean 71-72-69-212
Arjun Atwal 72-67-73-212
Mathias Gronberg 68-70-74-212
Craig Stadler 70-72-71-213
Darron Stiles 71-71-71-213
Hunter Mahan 71-70-72-213
Aaron Baddeley 69-71-73-213
Peter Tomasulo 73-70-70-213
Rod Pampling 71-73-69-213
Bob Estes 73-70-71-214
Brian Bateman 71-72-71-214
Justin Rose 74-66-74-214
Scott Gutschewski 70-74-70-214
Brent Geiberger 68-71-75-214
Scott Dunlap 67-77-70-214
Larry Mize 70-71-74-215
John Rollins 68-75-72-215
Brandt Jobe 67-73-75-215
Loren Roberts 70-70-75-215
Jonathan Byrd 68-76-71-215
Notah Begay III 71-73-71-215
Robert Gamez 73-71-71-215
Harrison Frazar 74-68-74-216
Jay Delsing 70-72-74-216
Kent Jones 72-69-75-216
Neal Lancaster 73-70-74-217
Michael Allen 68-73-76-217
Alex Cejka 74-69-74-217
Scott Hend 69-74-74-217
Pat Perez 71-73-73-217
Fred Funk 72-72-73-217
Craig Bowden 76-68-73-217
Jim Carter 69-74-75-218
Paul Gow 70-71-77-218
J.P. Hayes 68-72-78-218
Chris Anderson 74-69-75-218
Michael Long 74-69-75-218
Andrew Magee 73-71-74-218
Steve Allan 73-68-78-219
Glen Day 75-69-76-220
Greg Owen 73-71-77-221
Mark O'Meara 75-69-79-223
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