Beginning the third round at the PGA Tour's opening event with a five shot lead, Steve Stricker saw Webb Simpson close that gap throughout the round.
However, Stricker had a late charge in the tank for himself to end with a five stroke lead heading into a rare Monday finish at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
Opening the event up with rounds of 68 and 63, Stricker ended the day with a nice birdie charge on holes 15, 16, 17 and 18, to end his third round with a four-under 69, to take a five shot lead into the final round.
Two players, Jonathan Byrd and Martin Laird made hard charges to close the gap on Stricker early in the round, both carding rounds of 67.
However, they would end up five strokes behind the leader.
Playing along side Stricker, Webb Simpson cut the lead down to one after keeping a clean card in round three. Birdying No. 5, 8, 10 and 12 before conceding a bogey on the par-four 16th to fall behind three strokes to Stricker.
The LPGA Tour announced today they will be returning to the Rainbow State in 2012 for the first time since 2009.
Signing a new three-year agreement with LOTTE, a very well respected industrial conglomerate in Japan and Korea. With the $1.7 million LPGA LOTTE Championship, presented by J Golf.
The dates are set for play on April 18-21, finishing on a Saturday on the island of Oahu.
“We are honored that such an established and well-respected conglomerate like LOTTE has chosen the LPGA to expand its global platform.” LPGA Commissioner Michael Whan said upon making the announcement.
The 2012 PGA Tour season is set to kick off in three short days, as the 2011 Tour victors converge on Kapalua, Hawaii for the 2012 edition of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
28 players, all of whom won a PGA Tour event the previous season are invited to tee it up in the season's first event.
With so many story lines carrying over from 2011, belly putters, the FedEx Cup points system, young guns winning, rookies showing no fear. We are going to take a look at a few players to watch come Friday in the Rainbow State.
Beginning the third round at the PGA Tour's opening event with a five shot lead, Steve Stricker saw Webb Simpson close that gap throughout the round. 
