WASHINGTON (AFP) – Charles Howell kept his bid to end an 11-year PGA Tour title drought on track Saturday, firing a two-under par 68 for a one-stroke third-round lead in the RSM Classic.
Howell started the day with a three-shot cushion, and pushed the lead to five with two early birdies.
But two back-nine bogeys on the par-70 Seaside course in Sea Island, Georgia, left him little breathing room.
His 16-under par total of 196 put him one clear of veteran Jason Gore and rising rookie Cameron Champ, who both carded four-under par 66s.
Webb Simpson carded a 63 to share fourth along with Ryan Blaum, who signed for a 65.
Howell is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, but his most recent trip to the winner’s circle came at Riviera in 2007.
Since then he has notched 53 top-10s and six second-place finishes.
It has been even longer since 44-year-old Gore claimed his lone PGA title, in 2005. Since then he has seen his career disrupted by back trouble, but he is making the most this week of a sponsor’s exemption and played the back nine on Saturday in five-under with three birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th.
Champ, the big-hitting 23-year-old, seized his share of second place with a birdie at 18, where he stuck his second shot less than three feet from the pin.
