Floridas Ken Duke Leads Going Into Final Round of Quebec Open
Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:42:10
The 33-year-old fired a 6-under 66 Saturday for a 54 hole total of 13-under 203, one shot better than Hank Kuehne and Michael Harris. Doug McGuigan of Langley, BC is two shots back while David McKenzie, Parry Parker
and Iain Steel are at 10-under 206.
Beginning the day two shots behind Kuehne, Duke made a few adjustments to his putting style prior to the round and said it paid off for him. "I tinkered a bit with it today and I felt a lot more comfortable over the ball," said Duke. "Things just felt a lot better, and I was happy with the way I played. It was a good day for me."
This will not be the first time that Duke, the 1999 Order of Merit champion, finds himself near the top of the leaderboard on the weekend. Earlier this year, he led late in final round of the Scottsdale Swing at Eagle Mountain before taking a costly two-stroke penalty with just three holes to play, eventually winding up fifth. And back in June, during the Greater Vancouver Classic, Steel holed out from a greenside bunker on the 18th hole before defeating Duke in a playoff. If Duke needs any more incentive to shake the bridesmaid's label, all he has to look back to this event one year ago when Paul Devenport drained an 80-foot eagle putt on the final hole to force a playoff. Once again, Duke wound up second. On Sunday, he is looking for a reversal of fortune.
"I think if I can keep putting myself in this position, eventually I'll get over the top. It's really just been a lot of bad luck. Anytime you can get an advantage with these guys, you better take it or they'll steal it away. I figure my luck has got to change sooner or later."
Harris eagled holes 1 and 16 on his way to a 6-under 66 to climb right into the hunt. He had a birdie-eagle-birdie par finish and hopes to carry that over into the final round. "I got off to a quick start and made a lot of good up and downs today, and I hope to do much of the same tomorrow," said the 24- year old. "Whoever makes the least amount of mistakes is going to win (Sunday). I'll just go out and try to do the little things right and see where it takes me."
Kuehne, who won the Texas Challenge earlier this year and is currently second on the Order of Merit, wasn't overly concerned about losing the lead Saturday and is in a comfortable position with 18 holes to go. "Sure I would have liked to have played better, but I'm not going to fall too far back shooting 3-under," he said. "I think I left a few shots out there, but I like where I am heading into tomorrow."
Scores Saturday after the third round of the Canadian Tour's $200,000 TELUS Quebec Open being played at the 7103-yard, par-72 Le Versant GC (A-denotes amateur):
1 Duke, Ken Boca Raton, FL 70-67-66_203 -13
2 Harris, Michael Troy, MI 70-68-66_204 -12
2 Kuehne, Hank Palm Beach, FL 68-67-69_204 -12
4 McGuigan, Doug Langley, BC 66-71-68_205 -11
5 McKenzie, David Australia 69-67-70_206 -10
5 Parker, Perry Dana Point, CA 66-72-68_206 -10
5 Steel, Iain Malaysia 70-68-68_206 -10
8 Barber, Aaron Minneapolis, MN 66-70-71_207 -9
8 Scott, Steve Royal Palm Beach, FL 73-68-66_207 -9
10 Bouchard, Remi Candiac, QC 70-68-70_208 -8
10 Desjardins, Carl Vaudreuil, QC 71-66-71_208 -8
10 Devenport, Paul New Zealand 71-69-68_208 -8
10 Quinney, Jeff Scottsdale, AZ 71-69-68_208 -8
10 Unk, Brian Cuyahoga Falls, OH 71-67-70_208 -8
15 Butcher, Rodney Tampa, FL 72-67-70_209 -7
15 Grob, Mike Billings, MT 69-70-70_209 -7
15 Martin, Wes Calgary, AB 70-69-70_209 -7
15 McMillan, Rob Winnipeg, MB 68-69-72_209 -7
15 Woodard, Stephen Charlotte, NC 73-70-66_209 -7
20 Christensen, Dave Elk River, MN 68-70-72_210 -6
20 Howser, David Cordova, TN 75-67-68_210 -6
20 Nelson, Birk Portland, OR 70-70-70_210 -6
20 Tiziani, Mario Chanhassen, MN 73-69-68_210 -6
24 Bohn, Jason Atlanta, GA 70-70-71_211 -5
24 Gillespie, Derek Oshawa, ON 71-72-68_211 -5
24 Locker, Chris Columbia, SC 74-68-69_211 -5
24 Short, Adam Vineland, ON 71-72-68_211 -5
28 Correa, Larry San Diego, CA 70-71-71_212 -4
28 Doohan, Todd Sarnia, ON 73-69-70_212 -4
28 Enloe, Jason Dallas, TX 71-72-69_212 -4
28 Fritsch, Brad Manotick, ON 69-71-72_212 -4
28 Gutschewski, Scott Omaha, NE 69-71-72_212 -4
28 Lee, Eddy Corona, CA 70-71-71_212 -4
28 Scott, Drew Pinehurst, NC 68-72-72_212 -4
28 Warner, Jarrod Phoenix, AZ 70-70-72_212 -4
36 Barnes, Andrew Phoenix, AZ 72-71-70_213 -3
36 Bingham, Brett Red Deer, AB 69-71-73_213 -3
36 Driscoll, James Brookline, MA 72-71-70_213 -3
36 Kalinowski, Bobby Scottsdale, AZ 73-69-71_213 -3
36 Learmonth, Chris Glen Robertson, ON 69-71-73_213 -3
36 Massey, Rich Harrington Park, NJ 69-71-73_213 -3
36 Petty, Mayson Charlotte, NC 73-69-71_213 -3
36 Wall, Chris Dallas, TX 70-70-73_213 -3
44 Conrad, Bob Seattle, WA 72-69-73_214 -2
44 Griff, Darren Salt Spring Island, BC 71-72-71_214 -2
44 Johnson, Andy Orlando, FL 73-70-71_214 -2
44 Johnson, Rob Terre Haute, IN 71-72-71_214 -2
44 Mathis, David Raleigh, NC 72-70-72_214 -2
44 McCann, Brian Mississauga, ON 71-71-72_214 -2
44 Scaletta, Paul Richmond, VA 71-72-71_214 -2
51 Daniel, Matt Richmond, BC 69-72-74_215 -1
51 Kirk, Michael South Africa 72-71-72_215 -1
51 Parry, Bryn North Vancouver, BC 69-72-74_215 -1
51 Spallone, Sal Vero Beach, FL 72-70-73_215 -1
51 Turpen, Tim West Palm Beach, FL 74-69-72_215 -1
56 Faught, David South Africa 68-74-74_216 Even
56 Hearn, David Brantford, ON 74-69-73_216 Even
56 Mackenzie, Will Greenville, NC 71-72-73_216 Even
56 Pettitt, Ben Coral Springs, FL 72-68-76_216 Even
56 Symons, Drew Woodstock, ON 70-70-76_216 Even
56 Veress, Zoltan Kitchener, ON 70-72-74_216 Even
56 Woodcock, Mike Chatam, ON 72-71-73_216 Even
63 Pleis, Steve Parrish, FL 71-72-74_217 1
64 Flugstad, Brian Seattle, WA 70-73-75_218 2
65 Cuthill, Gregg Cowansville, QC 72-71-76_219 3
65 Webb, Brennan Bracebridge, ON 72-70-77_219 3
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