Date:16/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/16/stories/2006011606381800.htm

Sport - Golf

Atwal slips to tied 30th

Honolulu: India's Arjun Atwal fired three birdies but then dropped two shots on 16th and 18th to finish at one-under 69 at the $5.1 million Sony Open at the par-70 Waialae Golf and Country Club. Atwal slipped from overnight 17th to tied 30th. After scoring birdies on 9, 11 and 14th holes, Atwal's last miss was an eight-footer for par on 18th and is now at two-under 208 for 54 holes and 12 off the leaders.

Daniel Chopra ended the third day with a par 70 with four each of birdies and bogeys and slipped from 40th to tied 51st for a total of one-over 211.

David Toms set a course record with a 9-under 61 but Chad Campbell replied with a 62 and the two shared the lead at 14-under and seven clear of the rest of the field.Toms joined Campbell in the lead with a two-putt birdie on the 18th, setting the tournament record at Waialae Country Club since it changed to a par 70 in 1999. Davis Love III still has the course record of 12-under 60 in 1994.

KJ Choi fired a birdie on the closing 18th for a two-under 69 and was still Asia's best bet at five-under 205 at the year's first full field event on the PGA Tour. — PTI