Donald back on top

Englishman tied for the lead after Saturday's lowest round

Last updated: 3rd March 2008

Luke Donald Honda Classic rd1 Feb 08

Donald: took route 66

It was nice to come back and have a good chance tomorrow.

Luke Donald
Quotes of the week

Third round leaderboard
M Calcavecchia (US) -6
L Donald (Eng) -6
M Jones (Aus) -6
J Coceres (Arg) -5
B Davis (Eng) -5

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Luke Donald returned to the head of the leaderboard with a third-round 66 at the Honda Classic.

That was enough to give the Englishman a share of the lead alongside Mark Calcavecchia and Matt Jones at six-under-par.

Donald - who last won at this event two years ago - led after a first-round 64, before a 74 on Friday saw him slip off the pace.

But he was back in the groove on Saturday during a bogey-free 18 holes that featured two birdies on each half of the course.

The Hertfordshire golfer picked up strokes at the fifth and eighth during a front-nine of 33, and then made another move late in the day with successive birdies at the 16th and 17th.

Danger

"There's a lot of danger out there," noted Donald.

"There's some very daunting shots, a lot of scary shots with a lot of water around. So you have to really stand up there and hit good, solid shots.

"It was nice to come back and have a good chance tomorrow."

Also at six-under is American veteran Calcavecchia, who birdied three of his first four holes during a round of 67.

And Australian Jones - playing in the final group - birdied the 18th for a 71 to join Calcavecchia and Donald.

Donald's fellow Englishman Brian Davis, the half-way leader, signed for a 73 to slip back into a two-way tie for fourth at five-under with Jose Coceres (68).

World number four Ernie Els, the highest ranked player in the field, recorded a second consecutive level-par 70 to remain on the fringes of contention in a five-man group at three-under.