Canadian Tour Rookie Ben Pettitt Leads MTS Classic
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:41:06
The 26-year-old Iowa native has a 54-hole total of 12 under 201 and leads Aaron Barber (Minneapolis, MN) and David McKenzie (Australia) by two shot with 18 holes to play.
Bobby Kalinowski of Scottsdale, AZ is three shots back, while Rich Massey and Andy Johnson are at 8-under 205. Darren Griff (Salt Spring Island, BC) and Bryn Parry (North Vancouver, BC) are tied with four others at 7 under.
Pettitt, the 1997 Iowa Amateur of the Year, struggled over his front nine and was 1-over at the turn. He then caught fire on the back side with birdies on five of his first six holes.
"I felt comfortable out there, although you wouldn't have known it early on," said Pettitt, a former Academic All-American at Drake University. "I had a few hiccups early on, but I was able to get back into the tournament."
It has been a forgettable Canadian Tour rookie season on the Canadian Tour for Pettitt. After a tie for 16th at the season-opening Texas Classic, he has made just two of ten cuts since. On Sunday, he will try to become the sixth different player from February's Winter Qualifying School to win a Tour title.
"I can't imagine any worse of a first year out here," he added. "This is the worst golf I have played since pre high school. It's been frustrating. Hopefully we can get it turned around Sunday."
Barber, who drained a putt from off the fringe last week to set the course record during the TELUS Edmonton Open, nearly pulled off the feat once again Saturday. His chip from the fringe rolled a foot past the hole, leaving him one shot shy of the Pine Ridge record 62 set last year in the final round by Calgary's Wes Martin. Mark Slawter equalled the mark later in the day.
"I was able to get off to a good start, the confidence got going and I was able to roll in a few putts," said Barber. "I know I'll have to put up another low number tomorrow. I've been in this position before, so I think that will help me out, but you've got to make it happen Sunday."
When told that the last two winners of this event, Kenneth Staton last year and Ben Ferguson in 2000, had gone on to get PGA Tour cards a few months later, Barber smiled before posing a question of his own.
So, will they give me a PGA Tour card if I can win Sunday?"
Scores Saturday after the third round of the Canadian Tour's $150,000 MTS Classic played at the 6521-yard, par-71 Pine Ridge GC:
1 Pettitt, Ben Coral Springs, FL 68-67-66_201 -12
2 Barber, Aaron Minneapolis, MN 70-70-63_203 -10
2 McKenzie, David Australia 65-69-69_203 -10
4 Kalinowski, Bobby Scottsdale, AZ 66-67-71_204 -9
5 Johnson, Andy Orlando, FL 67-69-69_205 -8
5 Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 71-67-67_205 -8
7 Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 70-67-69_206 -7
7 Johnson, Rob Terre Haute, IN 69-68-69_206 -7
7 Parry, Bryn North Vancouver, BC 68-69-69_206 -7
7 Quiroz, Alex Mexico 68-70-68_206 -7
7 Scott, Steve Wellington, FL 68-71-67_206 -7
7 Sutterfield, Brad St. George, UT 65-72-69_206 -7
13 Christensen, Dave Elk River, MN 68-69-70_207 -6
13 Ford, Scott Lake Worth, FL 67-70-70_207 -6
13 Tiziani, Mario Chanhassen, MN 69-71-67_207 -6
13 Woodard, Stephen Charlotte, NC 72-68-67_207 -6
17 Grob, Mike Billings, MT 71-67-70_208 -5
17 Hearn, David Brantford, ON 71-70-67_208 -5
17 LaBelle, Doug Mt. Pleasant, MI 73-66-69_208 -5
17 Mathis, David Raleigh, NC 69-68-71_208 -5
17 Wood, Jeff Fortuna, CA 73-68-67_208 -5
22 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 67-72-70_209 -4
22 Enloe, Jason Dallas, TX 69-71-69_209 -4
22 Gemoets, Rafael El Paso, TX 69-70-70_209 -4
22 Rocha, Alex Brazil 72-68-69_209 -4
22 Spallone, Sal Vero Beach, FL 72-71-66_209 -4
22 Speirs, Adam Winnipeg, MB 71-70-68_209 -4
28 Ayers, Dirk Sarasota, FL 69-70-71_210 -3
28 Chartrand, Dan Victoria, BC 70-72-68_210 -3
28 Fanning, Todd Winnipeg, MB 68-69-73_210 -3
31 Chilton, Gord Markham, ON 70-70-71_211 -2
31 Fritsch, Brad Manotick, ON 71-71-69_211 -2
31 Harrison, Roger Calgary, AB 71-69-71_211 -2
31 Lane, Matthew New Zealand 74-66-71_211 -2
31 Locker, Chris Columbia, SC 69-74-68_211 -2
31 Mogg, Brian Florida 72-70-69_211 -2
31 North, Dean Winnipeg, MB 67-71-73_211 -2
31 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 72-71-68_211 -2
31 Welder, Jamie Calgary, AB 72-70-69_211 -2
40 Gutschewski, Scott Omaha, NE 71-71-70_212 -1
40 Reese, Mikkel Chandler, AZ 70-69-73_212 -1
40 Symons, Drew Woodstock, ON 73-66-73_212 -1
43 Belbin, Chad Kamloops, BC 67-74-72_213 Even
43 Fukushima, Kent Grande Prairie, AB 67-72-74_213 Even
43 Mijovic, Danny Toronto, ON 74-67-72_213 Even
43 Parker, Perry Dana Point, CA 73-70-70_213 Even
43 Wright, Bryan Stanberry, MO 70-73-70_213 Even
48 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 71-69-74_214 1
48 Heuchan, Bruce Kelowna, BC 70-71-73_214 1
48 Marseilles, Craig Maple, ON 72-70-72_214 1
48 McCann, Brian Mississauga, ON 71-71-72_214 1
52 Daniel, Matt Richmond, BC 73-70-72_215 2
52 Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 68-74-73_215 2
52 Nelson, Birk Portland, OR 71-69-75_215 2
55 Brown, Mark New Zealand 73-70-73_216 3
55 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 74-69-73_216 3
55 Corral, Jorge Mexico 69-73-74_216 3
55 Gentry, Brian Tahoe City, CA 76-66-74_216 3
55 Scott, Drew Pinehurst, NC 71-70-75_216 3
60 Johnson, Mark Helendale, CA 71-72-74_217 4
61 Odom, Bryant Cartersville, GA 69-73-76_218 5
62 Drewery, Jonn Cambridge, ON 72-71-80_223 10
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