• Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Round Three

Westwood falls back as Snedeker challenges again

ESPN staff
February 9, 2013
Lee Westwood fell further off the pace on Saturday © Getty Images
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Pebble Beach Pro-Am leaderboard

Brandt Snedeker, the 2012 FedEx Cup winner, remains in contention to lift his first title of the year after taking a share of the lead into the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Lee Westwood, though, will consider the tournament beyond him after he fell nine strokes off the pace on Saturday, carding a relatively poor one-over 73.

Snedeker has been in superb form in the opening stages of the season, registering one third-place finish and two second-place efforts from four outings to date. However, he is yet to get his hands on a trophy in 2013 and will be determined to edge ahead of co-leader James Hahn when they resume at 12-under on Sunday.

The American, playing on the Pebble Beach Golf Links, carded a four-under 68 after his round caught fire at the sixth, sparking a run of four straight birdies. Snedeker will feel he should have posted an even more domineering score, having parred the closing seven holes.

Hahn made up ground on his compatriot - playing on Spyglass Hill - with a flawless 66. Three birdies either side of the turn reflected the exceptional control Hahn had over his game as he edged towards a maiden PGA Tour title.

The pair sit one stroke ahead of closest challenger Chris Kirk, who birdied the last the move one clear of Patrick Reed into sole possession of third.

Westwood had started the day four strokes adrift of Snedeker, but a double-bogey at the sixth on Spyglass Hill restricted his chances of closing that gap. A bogey at the last then saw him fail to achieve par for the round, completing his worst day of the week.

Rather more impressive was former world No. 1 Vijay Singh - also playing on Spyglass Hill, who signed for a six-under 66. Singh hit five birdies prior to the turn to lift himself above Westwood.

Elsewhere, Phil Mickelson narrowly made the cut after he hit a one-over 73 to fall back to one-under for the tournament. Mickelson is one shot adrift of Jim Furyk who will also complete the weekend.

Padraig Harrington, Robert Karlsson and Nick Watney are among those to miss out as the field becomes shortened.

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