Toronto, Canada – By Mark Lamport-Stokes
KAPALUA, Hawaii (Reuters) - U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover maintained his composure to fend off a charging Geoff Ogilvy and cling on to a slender one-shot lead after Saturday's third round of the SBS Championship.
Seeking the third PGA Tour victory of his career in the opening event of the 2010 season, Glover birdied three of the last five holes for a two-under-par 71 and a 17-under total of 202.
"I'm obviously very happy to finish with three birdies," Glover told reporters after holding the tournament lead for the third day in a row. "It was a rough start, mainly with the putter.
"My speed was bad all day. Luckily it's something I can work on. We will get it worked out tonight and in the morning and be ready to roll.
Defending champion Ogilvy had to settle for second place after firing a six-birdie 68 with Britain's Martin Laird a further stroke behind at 15 under after carding a 69.
American Ryan Moore (68) was alone in fourth at 14 under while British Open champion Stewart Cink (69) and Masters winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina (70) were among a group of six players bunched at 13 under.
GUSTING WINDS
The surprisingly calm weather of the first two days at the picturesque Kapalua Resort was replaced by gusting Kona winds early on and Glover struggled with his putter over the front nine.
Although a bogey by his playing partner John Rollins at the par-four first gave Glover a brief four-shot cushion, he three-putted the seventh and eighth to slide back into a tie for the lead with Ogilvy.
The slender Australian, who romped to victory by six shots at Kapalua last year, covered the front nine in a flawless three under and snatched a two-stroke advantage with further birdies at the 12th and 14th.
Glover, who had birdied the par-five ninth to reach the turn in one over, coolly knocked in six-foot putts at the 14th and 16th to again draw level with Ogilvy.
While the Australian offset a bogey on 16 with his sixth birdie of the day at the par-five last, Glover regained control of the tournament as the wind shifted late in the day with a two-putt birdie on the 18th green.
However, nine players will go into Sunday's final round within four shots of the lead and a last-day shootout could well be on the cards.
"There are still 10 guys who think they can win the tournament, at least," said Ogilvy, who is bidding to earn Australia its fifth champion at Kapalua in the last seven years.
"I don't think I have time to feel too much pressure. I know I'm going to have to shoot six or seven under. When you stand on the first tee with that mindset, it's probably a little easier.
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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