• Crowne Plaza Invitational, Round Three

Davis on the brink of first PGA title

ESPN staff
May 29, 2010
Brian Davis surveys his approach © Getty Images
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Brian Davis is on the precipice of his first PGA Tour title after he shot a 65 to claim a share of the 54-hole lead at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

The world No. 117 joins Bryce Molder on 16 under after a five-birdie round on day three.

Davis started the day two shots behind overnight leader Molder, who fell back into the field with a double bogey at the fifth.

The Brit's work on the greens allowed him to seize the opportunity of pulling level with Molder - Davis required just 25 putts across the 18 holes he played on Saturday.

KJ Choi had looked set to challenge the leaders, but his round of 66 went badly awry when he suffered a quadruple bogey on the 18th.

"Going into that hole, I knew it was a tough one," Choi, who is six shots off the pace, said. "A few years ago when I had a triple [bogey], I hit it to the right so I was trying to hit it to the left a little bit, but I drew it a little too much, so it was just bad luck there."

Instead of Choi, it is Zach Johnson who is the best of the rest - one shot off the lead at 15 under.

Paul Casey and Steve Stricker both lurk on eight under, although surely too far back to launch a bid for the title. Casey was in terrific form off the tee - hitting 80% of his fairways - but an inability to drain putts saw him record three bogeys in his 66.

Stricker, who is playing in his first tournament for six weeks following a shoulder injury, made four birdies in his first eight holes - but he was unable to carry that momentum forward.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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