Phoenix Open
Scottsdale, Arizona,
22nd - 25th January 1998

Par 71 Prize Money $2.5 million

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econd Round Scores
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First Round Scores

Parnevik shares lead with Verplank

Scottsdale, Arizona, 24th January 1998 - Jesper Parnevik of Sweden birdied four of the final five holes today and is tied for the lead with Scott Verplank after the third round of the $2.5 million Phoenix Open at the TPC of Scottsdale in Arizona.

Parnevik and Verplank fired 5-under-par 66s this afternoon and are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under 202, two shots better than Paul Stankowski and three ahead of defending champion Steve Jones, Frank Lickliter and Vijay Singh of Fiji.

Tom Watson, John Daly and Lee Janzen lead a star-studded group of five players at 7-under 206. Larry Mize and Brent Geiberger also trail the leaders by four strokes.

Parnevik was the runner-up at this event last year, finishing a distant 11 strokes behind Jones. Despite five second-place finishes in 1997, he still is seeking his first PGA victory.

"Yesterday, I saw Steve and thought, `Here we go again,'" Parnevik said. "But he calmed down, gave us a chance."

The 32-year-old Swede turned around a lackluster round with birdie putts at the par-4 14th hole and the par-5 15th, where he two-putted from 30 feet. He chipped within two feet to set up another birdie at No. 17, then rolled in a five-footer on the 18th hole.

"When I finished second here last year, it was the same feeling as if you won the tournament because everybody except for Jones was playing for second," Parnevik observed. "The different thing this year as well is that you have probably 20 players who still can win. I mean the field is so packed because of all the firm greens. No one can really run away with it with a putter and anyone who shoots low tomorrow is going to have a chance."

Verplank won the 1985 Western Open as an amateur but is seeking his first PGA victory since 1988. The medalist at last month's PGA qualifying tournament, he rallied on the back nine with four birdies and an eagle after playing the first nine holes at 1-over.

"Obviously, I've shot these two really good scores on the back nine the last two days, but it's been because I've hit the ball great, close to the hole," said Verplank, who has not brought a lead into Sunday since 1990.

"I hope I handle it like the last tournament I played in, which I won, which was only a couple of months ago," he continued. "That helped me immensely. You don't want to play in the Tour school, but by winning, that helped me a lot."

Verplank birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th and 15th holes before sinking a 40-footer for eagle at the par-4 17th.

"I hit a driver right on the middle of the green, dead pin-high about 40 feet left of the hole and miraculously made it," he said. "That was a pretty good jolt for me there to make an eagle."

Second-round leader Kelly Gibson faltered with a 5-over 76 and is seven shots off the pace at 4-under 209.

Frost delayed play both Thursday and Friday and 13 players were forced to complete their second rounds this morning.

The par-71 TPC of Scottsdale measures 6,992 yards. First prize is $450,000.