A blistering back nine allowed Jonathan Byrd to sneak into a one-stroke lead at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.
Local favourite chasing his second victory of the season
A blistering back nine allowed Jonathan Byrd to sneak into a one-stroke lead by the end of the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship.
A local favourite having attended nearby Clemson University, Byrd birdied five of his first six holes after the turn on his way to a 67 at Quail Hollow.
His efforts, which left him at 15 under par, meant he flew by overnight leader Pat Perez, who sits two clear of Stewart Cink and Lucas Glover.
Byrd, who had two birdies and two bogeys on the front nine before catching fire on his way back in, will be looking to claim his second title of the season, having already triumphed at the Tournament of Champions this year.
Shaky start
"I was pretty shaky starting off, (I) didn't feel real comfortable out there," he said after playing alongside Phil Mickelson on Saturday.
"The environment is pretty distracting. Man, people were excited we were out there playing today. Charlotte was pretty rocking and rolling out there, and I just had a hard time settling down."
Perez, in contrast, had four birdies and two bogeys in his steady score of 70. He was ahead by two before dropping a shot at the 12th due to a poor chip.
Cink and Glover signed for rounds of 68 and 69 respectively to remain in the hunt, while Andres Romero (67), Kevin Na (67) and first-round leader Bill Haas (71) are tied for fifth on 11 under.
Brian Davis is the leading European on 10 under, with the Englishman marking five birdies and two bogeys on his third-round scorecard.
Mickelson, however, slipped back to seven under after a two-over 74 that included a double bogey on the par-three 17th.
Padraig Harrington is a stroke further back, the Irishman climbing up the standings with a 69 which included four birdies. Defending champion Rory McIlroy, who shot a final round of 62 to triumph last year, missed the cut.
One-minute silence
The PGA Tour also announced that a one-minute silence will be held on the final day in memory of Seve Ballesteros, who died at his home in Spain on Saturday following a two-and-a-half-year battle with a brain tumour.
Compatriot Sergio Garcia - who struggled at the end of his round, carding two double bogeys and a bogey over his last five holes for a 74 - admitted he was fortunate to have known Ballesteros.
"Well, he was special," Garcia said. "He was just an amazing player, such an amazing person.
"He was just different, the charisma he had and everything. The way he played, the way he went around it, it was great to watch. You know, it's a shame that some of the young guys didn't get to know him more."
Vijay Singh, who managed a 73 to sit alongside Harrington on seven under, echoed Garcia's sentiments, adding: "He was a great man, not only on the golf course but off the golf course.
"I think not only people that knew him through golf, but everybody that knew him through what he did for golf, I think it's a great loss and he'll be missed."
