KIAWAH ISLAND, South Carolina, 17 November 2003 — South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini and Trevor Immelman combined to shoot a nine-under-par 63 and build a seven-stroke third-round lead at the World Golf Championship-World Cup on Saturday.
South Africa are at 14-under-par 202 after the four-ball format at the par-72, 7,296-yard Ocean Course.
The United States (68) and France (68) are tied for second at seven-under-par 209 with Germany (67) and Sweden (67) equal fourth at five-under 211.
Sabbatini and Immelman birdied six of the first seven holes en route to the lowest round of the week. They shot a two-under 70 in the first round when the four-ball format was also used.
South Africa are seeking their fifth World Cup title in the event’s 50-year history after Ernie Els and Retief Goosen picked up their fourth crown in 2001.
Sabbatini birdied the first three holes and, following a par at the par-four fourth, Immelman birdied the next three holes — the shortest of his three birdie putts being from 15 feet. After an outward six-under 30, the South Africans cooled, but only slightly. Sabbatini birdied the par-five 11th and par-four 12th and Immelman added a birdie at the par-four 16th.
France and the United States struggled to stay close to the leaders.
Thomas Levet birdied the eighth and ninth holes as France went out in three-under 33 before Raphael Jacquelin birdied the 14th and 15th. However, a bogey at the par-five 16th stalled their momentum.
Goosen Steals Show With a $110,000 Putt, Sorenstam the Hearts
In Singapore, South African Retief Goosen struck pay-dirt on the 15th hole of a skins tournament held at the exclusive Tanah Merah Country Club in Singapore yesterday.
His second shot on the par four landed four feet away from the pin and he holed the putt to pick up the cool $110,000 that the 10 skins carried to the hole were worth.The putt also gave him the title for the second year running in the Tiger Skins tournament.
Center of attention, the world’s number one woman golfer Annika Sorenstam of Sweden breezed to the second spot with a total of $35,000, having added $15,000 to the $20,000 she had pocketed on Saturday itself.
Local challenger Lam Chih Bing struck it lucky on the final hole, his birdie earning him $15,000, leaving Swede Jesper Parnevik empty-handed. Parnevik had only his fellow Swede to thank for his troubles. He did make some good birdies but only to halve the hole three times with Sorenstam, adding spice to the excitement of the event.
