Verplank maintains lead in HP Classic

The shots and records continued to fall at the English Turn Golf and Country Club yesterday.

The shots and records continued to fall at the English Turn Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Scott Verplank shot a five-under-par 67 to maintain a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the HP Classic.

A day after establishing the 36-hole tournament record, Verplank eclipsed the 54-hole mark at 21-under 195 - a total that is just five shots off the 72-hole standard, established in 1988 when the Lakewood Country Club hosted the event.

A bogey at the par-four 16th hole sliced a shot off the lead for Verplank, who is seeking his fifth career PGA Tour win and first since the 2001 Canadian Open.

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Bob Estes shot his third straight 66 to climb into second place at 18-under 198. That is one stroke better than Kirk Triplett and Brian Gay, who double-bogeyed the final hole.

Lee Westwood, in a bid to resurrect his career, has opted to play in the States and the former European number one has shown some form this week.

Westwood added a third round 69 to be 11 under and in a share of 26th place going into the final round.

In keeping focus on play in America, Drogheda's Des Smyth lost some ground after his level par 72 in the second round of the Bruno's Memorial Classic.

Smyth trails Hale Irwin, who leads on 12 under, by eight shots in the Champions Tour event at Greystone Golf and Country Club.