Michelin Ixtapa Classic Round 3
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:37:04
Alex Munoz, playing on a sponsor's exemption, shot a Palma Real course record-tying 8-under 64 and is at 14 under 202 through 54 holes, good enough for a tie for top spot with fellow Mexican Pablo del Olmo. Ken Duke (Boca Raton, FL) and David McKenzie (Australia) are just one shot back. Mexico's Alex Quiroz is two strokes off the pace.
Canadians Bryan DeCorso (Guelph, ON), Eddie Maunder (Whitby, ON) and amateur Dan Swanson of Surrey, BC are tied for 17th at 8-under. Swanson, who like del Olmo also gained an exemption into the event, carded a 7-under 65 Saturday.
Munoz, 30, had three birdies in four holes beginning on the par-4 second and never looked back. "I had a great start and just kept going," he said. "I've known this course for a long time, so I'm sure that helps. But I am comfortable here and that should help me Sunday."
A member on the Canadian Tour as late as last year, Munoz suffered through tendonitis in his shoulders for most of 2001. He missed several events and could not retain his card, but seems to be getting his game back in form on his native soil. "To get my first professional win in Mexico would be special, but it just feels good to be back into competition. Winning would be the best way to get my Tour card back."
Since Thursday's opening round, del Olmo, a member on the Asian Tour, has held at least a share of the lead. A third-round 70 guarantees he will be in the final grouping Sunday with Duke and good friend Munoz.
"I didn't play as well as I did these past two days, but I didn't make any big mistakes," said del Olmo. "Alex (Munoz) had a great day and I am looking forward to Sunday. It's surprising, I didn't expect two Mexicans to be at the top. But we'll go out and have some fun and see what happens."
Swanson, who teamed with current Canadian Tour members Jon Mills, David Hearn and Danny Sahl on Canada's 2001 Four Nations Cup team, was thrilled following his round. He managed his 65 despite a bogey on the opening hole.
While Swanson's showing on the course helped widen the smile on his face, the 23-year-old was ecstatic that his hometown Vancouver Canucks appear on the verge of pulling off a major upset over the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup playoffs. "God, I'm just as excited about the Canucks as I am to be here, so maybe that is why I don't seem to be feeling any pressure," he admitted. " I didn' t have any expectations coming down here, I just wanted to make the cut and go from there. I know everyone back home was excited about me just making the cut, so I'm sure this will help."
Scores Saturday after the third round of the Canadian Tour's $150,000 CDN Michelin Ixtapa Classic being played at the 6875-yard, par-72 Palma Real Golf Club (denotes amateur):
1 del Olmo, Pablo Nuevo leon 64-68-70_202 -14
1 Munoz, Alex Mexico 69-69-64_202 -14
3 Duke, Ken Boca Raton, FL 69-66-68_203 -13
3 McKenzie, David Australia 64-68-71_203 -13
5 Quiroz, Alex Mexico 72-65-67_204 -12
6 Armagost, Adam 70-67-68_205 -11
6 Butcher, Rodney Tampa, FL 66-71-68_205 -11
6 Reese, Mikkel Chandler, AZ 69-68-68_205 -11
6 Saltus, Bryan Costa Mesa, CA 65-68-72_205 -11
6 Scott, Steve Wellington, FL 70-68-67_205 -11
11 Payne, Brian Chicago, IL 70-68-68_206 -10
12 McLean, Alan South Africa 73-68-66_207 -9
12 Mitchell, Michael Tequesta, FL 71-69-67_207 -9
12 Petty, Mayson Charlotte, NC 68-66-73_207 -9
12 Salazar, Juan Guanajuato 68-70-69_207 -9
12 Trauwitz, Jose Euless, TX 70-68-69_207 -9
17 DeCorso, Bryan Guelph, ON 72-69-67_208 -8
17 Kirk, Michael South Africa 71-69-68_208 -8
17 Maunder, Eddie Whitby, ON 68-72-68_208 -8
17 Morales, Wilfredo Dorado, Puerto Rico 68-69-71_208 -8
17 Swanson, Dan (A) Surrey, BC 73-70-65_208 -8
22 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 69-67-73_209 -7
22 Fernandez, Pablo Mexico 74-67-68_209 -7
22 Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 73-68-68_209 -7
22 Harris, Michael Troy, MI 71-72-66_209 -7
22 Stewart, James Hong Kong 69-72-68_209 -7
22 Wollmann, Chris Strongsville, OH 69-68-72_209 -7
28 Christensen, Dave Elk River, MN 71-69-70_210 -6
28 Davidson, Graham Palm Beach Gardens, FL 69-70-71_210 -6
28 Drewery, Jonn Cambridge, ON 71-72-67_210 -6
28 Fritsch, Brad Manotick, ON 71-66-73_210 -6
28 Hend, Scott Australia 69-68-73_210 -6
28 Kovacs, Kyle Sherman Oaks, CA 68-70-72_210 -6
28 McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 68-74-68_210 -6
28 Perez, Cesar Puebla 67-72-71_210 -6
28 Smock, Brian Chula Vista, CA 70-70-70_210 -6
28 Torres, Jesus Mexico City 72-70-68_210 -6
38 Deanda, David Guanajuato 67-73-71_211 -5
38 Greenwood, Chris Valdese, NC 70-73-68_211 -5
38 Matyczuk, Davidson Thunder Bay, ON 69-71-71_211 -5
38 Woodard, Stephen Charlotte, NC 71-69-71_211 -5
42 Barber, Aaron Orlando, FL 71-69-72_212 -4
42 Bohn, Jason Atlanta, GA 70-74-68_212 -4
42 Doig, Ian Newmarket, ON 71-73-68_212 -4
42 Inman, Manuel Mexico City 73-70-69_212 -4
42 Johnson, Mark Helendale, CA 69-73-70_212 -4
42 Quinlivan, Sean West Palm Beach, FL 72-72-68_212 -4
42 Welder, Jamie Calgary, AB 73-71-68_212 -4
49 Gonzalez, Octavio Mexico 73-69-71_213 -3
49 Gullion, Joey Dallas, TX 72-67-74_213 -3
51 Corral, Jorge Mexico 74-69-71_214 -2
51 Hinds, Jerry Orillia, ON 73-70-71_214 -2
51 McNeill, George Ft. Meyers, FL 69-75-70_214 -2
51 Watt, James Las Vegas, NV 75-68-71_214 -2
51 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 72-70-72_214 -2
56 Lebeck, David Portland, OR 74-69-72_215 -1
57 Warner, Jarrod Phoenix, AZ 73-70-73_216 Even
58 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 75-66-76_217 1
59 Wright, Bryan Stanberry, MO 70-74-75_219 3
60 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 70-73-78_221 5
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