Garcia surges into lead

HARRISON, JUNE 25. Spaniard Sergio Garcia shot a five-under-par 66 on Sunday to go two shots clear of Scott Hoch and eight ahead of Tiger Woods after the third round of the Buick Classic. Garcia made most of his headway on the front nine at the Westchester Country Club.

Woods recorded a third-round three-under-par 68 and was in a group of four golfers eight strokes behind Garcia with 10 players between them and the leader.

Weather delays have plagued this year's event, forcing tournament officials to schedule the final round for Monday.

Garcia made his turn at 31, carding three birdies and adding an eagle on the par-four seventh hole where his drive just missed the putting surface of the 326-yard hole. He chipped in.

With a three-shot lead going into the back nine, Garcia seemed in control. But, bogeys at the par-four 12th and par-three 16th cut his lead to one until he managed a pair of birdies on the final two holes to finish two shots ahead of Hoch.

Hoch started the day in a tie for the lead and tried to stay close to Garcia early with two birdies on the front side. Although he was within one after Garcia's bogey on the 16th, he could match only one of El Nino's birdies on the final two holes.

J.P. Hayes, the 1998 champion, shot a four-under 67 and was three shots back. Like Garcia, Hayes had a good front nine, posting four birdies and no bogeys for a 32. He could not keep his momentum on the back side where he shot an even-par 35.

Russ Cochran, Gabriel Hjertstedt and Stewart Cink, all at seven- under-par, were five back of the leader.

Rounding out the top 10 with six-under totals were Brad Faxon, Jay Williamson, Craig Parry, Billy Andrade and Vijay Singh.

Woods mounted an early charge with four birdies on the front nine. But, two bogeys with just one birdie on the back nine moved the World number one into a tie for 12th.

Eight of the top 10 on the Leaderboard have won at least once on the PGA tour. Only Jay Williamson and Australian Craig Parry are looking for a first title.

Leader Garcia was victorious at the Colonial last month with a final-round 63 and Hoch won the greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic by shooting four rounds in the 60s.

- Reuters

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