Santiago, Chile (Sportsbooks) - Christoph Guenther of Germany posted a one- under 70 on Saturday, but it was enough to stay atop the leaderboard after the third round of the Sport Frances Open. Guenther finished 54 holes at eight-under 205 and is two shots clear of Daniel Im, who shot a four-under 67 on Saturday. Im finished third on last year's Canadian Tour money list. This is the first event of the 2009 season on the Canadian Tour. It is co- sponsoring this championship, the 50th anniversary, with the Tour de las Americas. Martin Ureta is the highest Chilean on the leaderboard. He fired a five-under 66 in Saturday's third round and vaulted up to third place at five-under-par 208. Guenther began the third round with a three-shot lead, but he flew out of the gate on Saturday with a birdie at the first. He lost that stroke thanks to a bogey at two, but birdied the par-five fourth to reach eight-under par for the championship. The German bogeyed No. 6 and made the turn at even-par 36. Guenther birdied the 14th for the second round in a row. He birdied the par- five 17th, a hole he has played at four-under par so far this championship, and was three ahead at minus-nine. Problems arose at the last. For the second time in as many rounds, Guenther bogeyed the closing hole at the Sports Frances Golf Club. Hugo Leon (69) and Rafael Gomez (71) are knotted in fourth place at four-under 209. Julio Noguera (71), Clodomrio Carranza (71) and Raul Fretes (72) share sixth at minus-two. |
