Holmes claims Wells Fargo lead

US Tour

JB Holmes took the lead of the Wells Fargo Championship on moving day and will enjoy a one shot advantage on the final day.

Holmes carded four birdies on the front nine and after giving one of those shots back at the ninth hole, he responded immediately at the par-five 10th.

Further birdies at 15 and 18 took him one shot ahead of overnight leader Martin Flores, who could only manage a three-under-par 69.

Four birdies in five holes around the turn represented the highlight for Flores, who bogeyed the last to drop to second place.

The spotlight, however, belong to the legendary Phil Michelson who surged into contention after carding a 63 on the third round.

His nine-under-par round took him to 11 under for the tournament and alone in third place, but he was two shots behind leader Holmes who carded 66 for his third round.

Mickelson came within a stroke of emulating Brendon de Jonge’s who bettered the course record the day before.

Mickelson played the six holes from the third to the eighth in seven under par, with an eagle at the par-five seventh, but could only manage two birdies on his back nine as he narrowly missed out on the record shared by De Jonge and Rory McIlroy.

“I was able to put everything together. Mickelson said afterwards.

“I played well from tee to green. I hit the ball well, put it in play, I hit good iron shots and was able to capitalise on those shots with some good putts, and it feels good because I hadn’t really been able to put it all together this year.

“It felt close, hasn’t felt far away, and to put it together today, it’s nice.”

Meanwhile McIlroy will begin his final round at Quail Hollow one place outside the top 10 after responding well to yesterday’s dismal 76 with a third-round 65, with eight birdies and a bogey at the ninth.

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