Imada moves two clear

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February 1, 2010

Japan’s Ryuji Imada moved two shots clear at the top of the Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard in San Diego on Saturday.

Japan’s Ryuji Imada moved two shots clear at the top of the Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard in San Diego on Saturday.
Imada, a distant runner-up behind Tiger Woods in the tournament two years ago, shot a third-round two-under-par 70 at Torrey Pines’ South course to move to 13-under after 54 holes.
Imada was two strokes ahead of American Ben Crane and Australia’s Michael Sim with US Open champion Lucas Glover a further shot behind on 10-under.
Having been split between the South course and its easier, shorter North course over the first two rounds, the field that survived the halfway cut all played on the South for round three.
World number two Phil Mickelson carded an erratic 70 to stay within four shots of the lead on nine under alongside Korean KJ Choi, fellow Americans Brandt Snedeker, Matt Every, tour rookie Rickie Fowler and DA Points, who was the joint leader with Imada after 36 holes.
Mickelson’s round featured an eagle, three birdies, a bogey and a double bogey, but Snedeker finished on a roll with three birdies in a row, having bogeyed the par-four fifth and added two more birdies.
“I’m playing good,” Snedeker said. “I finish off a round like that, I definitely want to keep going.
“I hit a great shot on 16 about two feet and another great shot on 17 about three feet, and then 18 I finally made a putt.”
Troy Merritt shot the low round of the day, a 67, to get to eight-under and into a tie for 11th. Joining him there were Australians Marc Leishman and Robert Allenby and Ernie Els of South Africa.
England’s Justin Rose went round in level par to stay at four under par, while compatriot Luke Donald also shot at 72 to remain at two-under. Scotland’s Martin Laird was another shot back following a two-over 74.

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