Snedeker leads by three with a round to go in Fiji

FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
American Brandt Snedeker will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Fiji International after mastering the wind to get to 12 under at Natadola Bay Golf Course.
Strong winds last year meant winner Matt Kuchar was the only player to finish under par and while the gusts did not get that high on Saturday, they provided problems for many in the field.
Snedeker's 70 was his highest score so far this week following rounds of 69 and 65 but still allowed him to establish a cushion as he looks to make it two American wins in a row at the event.
The 35 year old had little time to get used to the course after flying in fresh from winning three points in the American Ryder Cup triumph last week, but he has certainly looked at home and enjoyed a run of 49 blemish-free holes over the first three days.
"It was a tough day, I did a great job of hanging in there," he said. "I hit the ball really well off the tee with one exception and put the ball where I needed to all day. I hit a bunch of great putts that didn't want to go in today for whatever reason.
"Starting the day out, if you'd have told me I'd shoot a couple under I probably would have taken it tough as the conditions are and as many big numbers are out there.
"I've given myself a chance and going into tomorrow I need to finish it off.
"A three-shot lead in wind like this is one hole so I need to go out there and play a solid round of golf like I did today.
"We'll see what the weather looks like. Hopefully we get a good day forecast, go out there and make some birdies and shoot something low."
Australia's Anthony Houston was then at nine under after a 73, a shot clear of countryman Matthew Giles who signed for a 75.
New Zealand duo Michael Hendry and Gareth Paddison were then at seven under.
Snedeker began the day a shot behind overnight leader Giles but was quickly into a share of the lead as the 27 year old bogeyed the first.
Another Giles bogey on the fifth and a Houston blemish on the sixth handed Snedeker the lead and when he birdied the ninth coupled with a Houston bogey, the advantage was three shots.
Snedeker made a second birdie of the day on the 14th and while a bogey two holes later ended his impressive run, the Nashville native was still very much in control.
All three of the leading contenders then birdied the 17th, with Houston breaking a run of seven pars and Giles coming home in 36 after a three over par front nine.
"I was struggling mid-round and I'd normally in the past give it away and drop a few more but I really hung in there and holed a few putts," said Houston.
"You never want to lose it and just give up when you're playing with such a good person, I'm sure he's been where I was before and he did the right things so I want to do the right things too.
"He's just a genuine guy for such a superstar."
Hendry signed for a 68 and Paddison - who broke the course record on Friday with a 64 - recorded a 69.
Ben Eccles, In-hoi Hur and Brett Rankin were then at six under, a shot clear of Andrew Evans, Matthew Griffin and Todd Sinnott.

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