Harrington moves up to 14th in Reno

Golf:JJ Henry improved his score for the third successive day to take over the lead of the Reno-Tahoe Open. The American, having picked up 10 points in round one and then 12 on day two, amassed a total of 14 points in the third round to move to the top of the leader-board on 36 points under the modified Stableford scoring system.

Ireland’s Padraig Harrington manufactured a nine point haul yesterday, his best of the tournament to move into to a tie for 14th place going into the final round. Henry’s round included five birdies and an eagle two at the 14th, with his only dropped shot coming at the par-three 16th.

In second place at Montreux Golf and Country Club, three points behind Henry, is Brazilian Alexandre Rocha. The latter led after the second round with a two-shot lead over American pair Henry and John Mallinger and he continued to make his presence felt near the top of the leader-board with a nine-point haul.

It would have been even better for the South American but for a bogey on the17th, his only dropped shot of the round. Mallinger is third on 32 points after picking up 10 points while first-day leader Andres Romero of Argentina is fourth a further point back.

England’s Gary Christian is joint fifth with two-time major winner John Daly and Bill Lunde while 1997 Open champion Justin Leonard is eighth on 26 points. Christian, who carded an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his round, is the only European in the top 10.