US PGA Tour rookie Aaron Baddeley opened up a two-shot lead on world number two Ernie Els of South Africa after the third round of the $4.5 million Sony Open in Honolulu on Saturday. The 21-year-old Australian returned a five-under-par 65 to finish 15-under overall on 195, two strokes ahead of Els (66) at the Waialae Country Club.
Americans Robert Gamez (65), Briny Baird (67) and Chris DiMarco (69) shared third place on 200, one ahead of Japan's Shigeki Maruyama (69).
Baddeley, who shared the lead overnight with South African Retief Goosen, blitzed his way to a five-under-par 30 on the front nine which included a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-five ninth. Goosen never recovered from a triple-bogey seven at the first and finished with a two-over-par 72 for 202.
Baddeley begins his first season on the circuit with a reputation as a giantkiller. In his three wins on the Australasian Tour, he has defeated Colin Montgomerie, Sergio Garcia, Robert Allenby and Greg Norman head to head.
Filed by James Boylan.
