Duluth, GA (My Sportsbook) - Georgia-native Charles Howell III carded a five-
under 67 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the AT&T
Classic.
Howell, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, completed 54 holes at 13-under-par
203. Howell has owned three previous 54-hole leads, but has lost all three
events.
Kenny Perry began the round three shots behind second-round leader Jonathan
Byrd. Perry carded his second straight three-under 69 and is alone in second
at minus-12.
Byrd stumbled to a one-over 73 and dropped into a share of third at 11-under-
par 205. Byrd was done in by a three-over 39 on the front, but responded with
a pair of birdies on the back nine to end in a share of third.
He was joined there by David Toms (69) and Ryan Palmer (70).
Howell opened with five straight pars before making his move. He got up and
down for birdie on the par-five sixth and made it two in a row with a birdie
on the seventh at the TPC at Sugarloaf.
The 28 year old drained a 10-footer for birdie on the par-five 10th to grab a
piece of the lead. As he parred the next four, Howell found himself one back
as Perry and Palmer had moved to 12-under.
Howell converted another 10-foot birdie putt at the 15th to regain a piece of
the lead.
As his fellow leaders stumbled, Howell parred 16 before moving to 13-under
with a birdie on the 17th. At the par-five closing hole, Howell three-putted
for par from 80 feet to finish at 13-under.
"It has been a lot of hard work with my coach. We've spent a lot of time
together," Howell admitted. "I've struggled a lot over the past year or so
with my driving, but I'm getting better and it is improving."
Howell has also be working hard to improve his putting.
"I felt like I've been getting a lot of balls on line, but my speed wasn't any
good," Howell said of his putting woes. "We've spent a lot of time on speed
drills, working on the speed of putts and forgetting the hole altogether. It's
amazing when you take care of that, the ball finds a way to go in."
Perry got off to a hot start with a 14-foot birdie putt on the third. He came
right back with an eagle from 21 feet out on the fourth to grab the lead at
12-under.
The nine-time winner on the PGA Tour parred four straight before tripping to a
bogey on the ninth. Perry recovered that stroke with a three-foot birdie putt
at the 12th.
Perry three-putted for bogey on the par-three 16th to slip to 11-under.
However, he got up and down for birdie at the last to finish one behind
Howell.
"It was a good day for me," Perry stated. "I got off to a good start, birdied
the third and eagled the fourth. I felt really good about my game today. I had
a lot of energy and my swing felt great.
"I only hit two loose shots. I hit a bad seven-iron on the ninth hole and a
bad seven-iron on 16 and they both cost me bogeys. All in all, it was a good
solid round."
Ryuji Imada, who was a playoff loser here last year, flew into contention with
a six-under 66 Saturday. He shares sixth place at 10-under-par 206 with Heath
Slocum (69). Justin Bolli is one shot behind them at minus-nine after a 68 on
Saturday.
Steve Elkington, Brett Quigley, Omar Uresti, Camilo Villegas and Craig Kanada
share ninth at eight-under-par 208.
