Campbell bursts in front with a 61
HOUSTON, U.S. (Reuters) -- Chad Campbell burst through the pack with a dazzling 10-under-par 61 to take a one-stroke lead over Charles Howell III after the third round of the Tour Championship in Houston. He had started the day five off the pace.
Campbell, who has made his mark on the PGA Tour this season, finishing second in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill and earning total prize money of $2,832,064, is ninth on the order of merit,
But the 24-year-old American, however, is not satisfied with close-calls or the money. "I just want to win," said after recording a 13-under-par aggregate of 200.
"Wherever it is, whenever it is, it doesn't matter. I want to get my first win."
Campbell was used to winning before he arrived on the main tour. In 2000, he won eight of the first 16 events on the Hooters Tour, a development circuit, before following up with three victories on the Nationwide Tour in 2001.
He was also runner-up to Cameron Beckman in the PGA Tour's season-ending Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2001.
Campbell was tied for the lead at the PGA Championship earlier this year but eventually had to settle for second place behind Shaun Micheel.
"I don't feel like I gave him (Micheel) the tournament," Campbell said. "I felt like I hit a lot of good shots coming down the stretch and it felt good in the situation.
"That was important to me. That's something that I can take into tomorrow."
In the first two rounds this week, no one had gone lower than 67. Campbell said he focused on Saturday on playing as well as he had done for the first two days when he shot 70-69.
"I just kept trying to hit good shots and get chances for birdie," he said.
Campbell said he ignored the fact that birdies on the last two holes would have given him an elusive 59. In fact, he did not even know he was leading until he went for a television interview at the end of the round.
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