Maruyama holds a three-stroke lead
GREENSBORO, U.S. (Reuters) -- Japan's Shigeki Maruyama shot a two-under-par 70 in the third round to lead the Greensboro Classic by three strokes from Brad Faxon.
Maruyama, who opened with rounds of 65 and 64, is on 17-under 199.
Faxon shot a 68 on Saturday and is three in front of Australian Peter Lonard, South Korea's K J Choi and Matt Gogel.
Australia's Stuart Appleby, the winner of last week's Las Vegas Invitational, heads a group of five players on 206, including compatriot Robert Allenby, New Zealand's Steve Alker, David Sutherland and Stephen Ames of Trinidad and Tobago.
Maruyama was especially pleased with an eagle at the par-five 13th. "That was the perfect hole," he said.
"I hit a perfect shot from the tee box, a perfect three-iron, the second shot, and perfect putt. That hole saved my game today."
Faxon managed only a par at the 13th, where his tee shot came to rest against a pine tree and he was forced to take an unplayable lie and one-shot penalty.
While Maruyama fired a brilliant three-iron second shot that rolled within 15 feet of the hole, the American hit a five-wood that fell short.
"I ended up making an eight-footer for par there and I was happy walking off that green,"
said Faxon.
After the 13th, both players had to be satisfied with steady pars, although Maruyama holed a 24-foot putt at the 18th.
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