Second straight 63 boosts Bolli to three-shot lead in Fort Smith  PGA TOUR Staff FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Justin Bolli posted his second consecutive 7-under 63 to surge to the lead after the third round of the Nationwide Tour's $525,000 Fort Smith Classic presented by Stephens Inc.  Justin Bolli leads by three after three rounds. (Kevin C. Cox/WireImage)
Bolli's season-low 15-under-par 195 matches Mark Hensby's tournament-record 54-hole score in 1998 and gives him a comfortable three-stroke lead over Ron Whittaker (64) and Jon Mills (67). "I had a really good day from tee to green and obviously I made a lot of putts," said Bolli, a 31-year-old native of Portland, Ore. "Hopefully I'll just keep hitting good shots." After opening with a 3-under 69, Bolli has been nearly flawless the last two days, posting 16 birdies and just two bogeys. "I hit it really good the first day but didn't make any putts," said Bolli. "I hit it the same the last two days but made a lot of putts." Saturday's round was highlighted by five birdie putts in excess of 18 feet, including 20-footers on Nos. 12 and 17 and a 25-footer on the par-3 eighth hole. "I was definitely in the zone today with the putter," said Bolli, who ended the day with just 23 putts. "I made a lot in the 10- to 20-foot range." The former University of Georgia walk-on will enter the final round seeking his second career victory on the Nationwide Tour, having edged 2006 Nationwide Tour graduate Johnson Wagner and Chris Anderson by a stroke to win the 2004 Chattanooga Classic. That same year he tied for eighth at the Fort Smith Classic. "The course is playing different than 2004, but it helps to have played well here before," said Bolli. "I like this course. Off the tee, you have to hit it straight because of the trees lining the fairways. It has that old course feel." Currently No. 17 on the money list with $66,139 -- thanks in large part to a season-best runner-up finish two weeks ago at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic -- a strong finish on Saturday will further bolster Bolli's position among The 25. "The last couple of weeks have been pretty good," said Bolli. " (Being in the lead) is where I want to be." Second-round leader and former University of Arkansas Razorback Craig Lile had moved to 12 under on the day through four holes, but a triple bogey on the par-4 fifth hole dropped him well behind the leaders. He finished with an even-par 72 to finish among a group of seven players in a tie for seventh place and four shots behind. Third-Round News & Notes: Preferred lies were in effect for the third consecutive day. ... Due to forecasted inclement weather early Sunday morning and later in the afternoon, threesomes will play off of split tees beginning at 8:40 a.m. and concluding at 10:30 a.m. ... The shot of the day was turned in by Matt Hendrix (65) with a hole-in-one on the par-3 second hole. The former Clemson Tiger hit a 7-iron from 200 yards for the ninth ace in tournament history and the 10th of the season on Tour. ... Garrett Willis (64) became the second player this week with two eagles in a round, doing so on Saturday on Nos. 6 and 11. It marked the second straight day he has eagled the 11th hole. ... Justin Bolli has now held the 54-hole lead three times in his career on Tour, firing a final round 2-over 73 to finish T7 at the 2004 Albertsons Boise Open and a 2-over 74 to finish T5 at the 2004 Nationwide Tour Championship. ... The third-round leader has gone on to win the Fort Smith Classic seven times in nine attempts, including most recently Darron Stiles in 2006. So far this season, the third-round leader has been successful in four of eight tournaments, most recently Martin Laird at the Athens Regional Foundation Classic. ... Players without a bogey during the third round were Ron Whittaker (64), Chris Baryla (64), Brad Elder (65), Matt Hendrix (65), Adam Riddering (65), Tee McCabe (65), Jay Williamson (66) and Jeff Klauk (67), bringing the total for the week to 19. ... The toughest hole during the third round was the par-4 seventh hole with a 4.373 average. The par-5 sixth hole ranked the easiest at 4.299 ... The third-round scoring average was 68.985, compared to 69.409 a year ago. Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
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