Sabbatini trying to put full Nelson on field

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This article was published 24/05/2009 (6295 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IRVING, Texas — Rory Sabbatini has already won at Hogan’s Alley. Now he shares the lead going into the final round at Byron Nelson’s tournament.

“Anything associated with his name would be an absolute honour,” Sabbatini said after a 5-under 65 Saturday to keep a share of the lead at the Byron Nelson Championship.

Two years after his last victory, at the Colonial where Ben Hogan’s larger-than-life statue is prominent, Sabbatini is in position to win again after five birdies in a seven-hole stretch midway through his third round.

Sabbatini and John Mallinger, who entered the third round as co-leaders, both shot 65 to get to 13-under 197. That is two strokes ahead of three other players.

“Obviously got off to a good start, just putting the ball in the right spots, putting it on the greens, hitting some good putts,” Sabbatini said. “And then never really got anything going until No. 5.”

Even for the day until he got to the 174-yard fifth hole, Sabbatini’s pin-high tee shot rolled back and lipped the cup to set up a three-foot birdie. He also had three consecutive birdies before making the turn, capped by a 41-footer on the 427-yard ninth hole.

Mallinger, without a win in his first 76 PGA Tour events, had his second consecutive 65. The bogey-free round was much different from Friday, when he had two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys.

“Today was the type of golf that I like to play. Normally, that’s my game,” Mallinger said. “I kind of had a game plan going in and I stuck with it. Being the leader, it was always a little different feeling.”

Mike Weir of Bright’s Grove, Ont., fired a third-round 66 to move into a tie for 17th at 7 under.

Dustin Johnson struggled after going 6 under through eight holes. He shot 66 to get in at 11 under with D.A. Points (65) and Brian Davis (66). At 10 under were Kevin Streelman (64), Glen Day (65) and Briny Baird (67), who was 5 under through seven holes before three bogeys in a five-hole stretch.

Sabbatini had a season-low round of 64 Friday. Now he has the best two-round stretch of the season.

After his only bogey, when he missed fairway at No. 14 and had to punch out short of the water, Sabbatini got that stroke back with an 11-foot birdie at No. 15.

Sabbatini wore a pink ribbon atop his cap, the symbol for breast cancer awareness. Phil Mickelson this week indefinitely suspended his golfing schedule following wife Amy’s diagnosis.

“Phil and Amy Mickelson are definitely forefront in everyone’s thoughts out here,” Sabbatini said. “We all know that she’s a strong and determined person, and she’ll pull through it.”

Sabbatini had supporters wearing black T-shirts that read “Rory’s Rowdy Roadies” on the front and “Team Sabo” on the back. One of the supporters in Mallinger’s gallery was his tennis-playing buddy Mark Knowles, who delayed his trip to Paris for doubles competition at the French Open.

“He was supposed to take off (Saturday), and we had a bet if I got in the leader group he had to change his flight,” said Mallinger, who has to go to Paris if Knowles makes the finals.

— The Associated Press