Golf: Cheque chance for charging Campbell

WENTWORTH - New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell quietly eased his way towards an outside chance of victory heading to the final round of the European PGA championship yesterday.

Campbell produced the equal-best round on the third day of five-under-par 67 to move to nine-under, six strokes behind unheralded Scot Andrew Oldcorn, who leads the event.

Oldcorn, 41, again defied the cream of Europe's best with a third-day 69.



After two opening rounds of 70, Campbell knuckled down to display the form which took the world No. 15 to a second placing behind Tiger Woods in Germany last week.

He began the third round in a share of 28th place at four-under, and by day's end was in a tie for fifth and the hope of capturing the £333,330 ($1.1 million) winner's cheque.

Campbell enjoyed a high early in his third round when he chipped in from 18m behind the green for an eagle three. He then sank a 20ft birdie putt at the sixth before successive bogeys at the ninth and 10th.

But he rounded off his charge towards the top in style with birdies on the par-five 17th and 18th holes.



* Bad weather has caused the Kemper Open in Potomac, Maryland, to continue until today (NZT).

Leaders J.J. Henry and Frank Lickliter began yesterday at 16-under, four shots clear of the field.

The leaders were scattered all over the course because the groupings were not changed after the third round, to save time.

New Zealanders Frank Nobilo and Phil Tataurangi were in equal 19th and equal 26th places going into the final day.

- AGENCIES