Michael Putnam continues to lead the Albertsons Boise Open Presented by Kraft with just 18 holes to play, but with a strongly compacted group of chasers behind him it will not be an easy march to victory.
Putnam scored a three-under 68 at the Hillcrest Country Club in Idaho on Saturday (September 15, local time) to reach 18 under the card overall.
In a strange start to his third round, Putnam followed an eagle-three at the second hole with a double-bogey seven at the very next hole. Things settled down from there as he notched four birdies and a bogey over the remaining holes.
Five players trail the front-runner by just two strokes heading into the final day, including Australian Scott Gardiner who flew up the list with a seven-under 64. Gardiner shot seven birdies and dropped no strokes in a fine display.
But the round of the day belonged to Luke Guthrie, with a nine-under 62 helping him to a share of second position alongside Gardiner.
Steve Wheatcroft, Casey Wittenberg and Tyrone Van Aswegen are also at 16 under following rounds of 63, 64 and 67 respectively.
