Australia's Robert Allenby cranked up his game several notches during the middle of the third round to take a two-shot lead at the Western Open on Saturday. Allenby was one-under for the first seven holes, but then made four birdies and an eagle over the next nine on his way to a seven-under-par round of 65 and a 15-under total of 201.
Neal Lancaster was second on 203, with Jerry Kelly and Bob Estes sharing third place on 204. Davis Love III and second-round leader John Cook were another shot back. Allenby said his experience of having won the Western Open in 2000 was a help as he negotiated the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club's Dubsdread Course.
"I've got a lot of memories from a couple of years ago, and I'm trying to draw on them as I go around the course. I'm trying to remember some of the holes that I birdied and just drawing on some of the shots. It's nice when you come back to a course that you have won before, and you always have a lot of confidence at that course," said Allenby.
"It's a course that I love to play, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, to the challenge and getting out there and trying to make as many birdies as I can," he added. Allenby broke free from a pack of contenders when he eagled the par-five 15th hole for the second day in a row.
After the Australian's drive found the first cut of rough on the left side of the fairway, he hit a four-iron to 20 feet and rolled in his putt. Allenby, 10-under on the par-five holes this week, followed up with a birdie at the 16th that put him two shots ahead. "I was trying to make a birdie on 16 just to keep the momentum going," he said.
Filed by James Shortt
