Peter Whiteford pegged back as eagles carry Jbe Kruger to new heights

Published on Sunday 19 February 2012 02:14

SCOTLAND’S Peter Whiteford, the halfway leader, was a shot off the pace after a level-par 72 at the Avantha Masters yesterday.

South African Jbe Kruger carded a six-under-par 66 to put himself in position for a maiden European Tour title, but was set to have a host of players snapping at his heels in today’s final round in New Delhi.

The 25-year-old former amateur star picked up two birdies and two eagles in a bogey-free third round at DLF Golf and Country Club to earn a slender advantage at the head of a congested leaderboard on 11 under par.

Kruger’s first eagle came courtesy of a 20-foot putt at the par-five sixth, with the second arriving when he holed a putt from off the green for a two at the driveable 15th.

Germany’s Marcel Siem (68) and Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Gonnet (69) were tied with Fifer Whiteford.

While Kruger enjoyed smooth progress over a flawless round, Siem got off to a nightmare start and had to dig deep to overcome double bogeys on each of the first two holes. Whiteford, pictured, also double-bogeyed six and 17, but remained in contention thanks to his work over the first two rounds.

Spain’s Jose Manuel Lara catapulted himself into contention with an eight-under 64 to share fifth spot, two strokes off the pace, along with Ireland’s Paul McGinley (68), Scotland’s Marc Warren (68), Thailand’s Prom Meesawat (71), Italy’s Andrea Pavan (67) and Australia’s Marcus Fraser.

With a total of 14 players within three shots of Kruger, the leader knows he still has it all to do to get over the line today.

“I’m going to try to play how I played today [Saturday],” he said. “If it’s meant to be my week, it’ll be mine, so I don’t want to think too far ahead yet.

“My putting has been good and if I can see the line, I’m confident my putts will go in. I’m improving and I’m a lot more experienced, and I think that will give me the edge.”

n Phil Mickelson hit into the trees, through the trees and one shot into a spectator’s shorts and still managed to stay at the top of the leaderboard in the Northern Trust Open last night.

Mickelson scrambled his way to a one-under 70 and was tied for the lead with USPGA champion Keegan Bradley, who shot 66.

They were at seven-under 206, but it was far from a two-man race at Riviera.

A dozen players are within four shots of the lead going into the final round, including defending champion Aaron Baddeley, Dustin Johnson and FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas.

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