LAS VEGAS — Chad Campbell made a double bogey on the par-5 16th, then birdied the 18th for a 4-under-par 67 and a share of the third-round lead with Scott Piercy on Saturday in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Piercy — a Las Vegas native whose wife, Sara, delivered son Jett on Thursday night — had a 65 to match Campbell, a former UNLV player, at 17-under 196 at TPC Summerlin.
Former Colorado State golfer Martin Laird (67) was a stroke back, and 2007 winner George McNeill (63), Jason Bohn (65), Jeff Klauk (66) and Bob Heintz (68) followed at 15-under.
After making an eagle on the par-4 12th and adding birdies on 13 and 15, Campbell dropped two strokes with the double bogey on 16.
“I was pretty upset with myself after that kind of a bad shot,” said Campbell, who won the last of his four PGA Tour titles in 2007. “I was aiming 20 feet right of the hole but pulled it toward the pin and low. Unfortunately, it didn’t carry. That’s the way it goes. But it was nice to end on a birdie.”
Piercy, winless on the PGA Tour, had seven birdies and a bogey. He also topped the leaderboard after three rounds in his last start, but closed with a 73 to tie for 12th at Turning Stone on Oct. 3.
“It’s definitely been a roller coaster,” Piercy said. “I think early in the week, it was the anticipation of having the baby. And I think emotionally that wears you down. . . . The golf course has been kind of a quiet retreat from everything; that I can just kind of punk up and down the fairway and take my time doing nothing.”
McNeill had eight birdies in his bogey-free round.
“I have a good feeling when I come here,” said McNeill, who missed the cuts in his previous four tour events. “It’s always nice to go back to places you played well. That’s what I feel like when I show up here. Obviously, my first year winning, and then last year I think I finished 15th.”
Forsman remains in front
THE WOODLANDS, Texas — Dan Forsman remained in position for his second Champions Tour victory of the year, shooting a 1-under 71 to take a one-stroke lead in the Administaff Small Business Classic.
Forsman had a 9-under 135 total on The Woodlands Country Club’s Tournament Course. Jay Haas (66), Gene Jones (67) and Mark Wiebe (69) were tied for second.
Goosen takes Portugal lead
VILAMOURA, Portugal — Retief Goosen shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Franscesco Molinari (68—197) after the third round of the Portugal Masters.
