Howell leads Sony, Fujikawa's fairytale continues

HONOLULU, Jan 14 (Reuters) American Charles Howell III took charge at the Sony Open after Hawaiian teenager Tadd Fujikawa provided the feel-good story in the third round.

Howell fired a five-under-par 65, the best score of the day, to move one shot clear and raise hopes of a first PGA Tour victory in more than four years.

Three off the pace overnight, the 27-year-old from Augusta birdied four of the last six holes to finish on 13-under 197 at a blustery Waialae Country Club yesterday.

Britain's Luke Donald, who narrowly missed an eagle attempt from 39 feet at the last, had to settle for second place after carding a 69.

American Paul Goydos, bidding for his first PGA Tour title in a decade, was a further stroke back in third after shooting a 70.

Journeyman Goydos, co-leader with Donald at the start of the day, led by one with four holes to play before dropping back with bogeys on 15 and 16.

Howell, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the 2002 Michelob Championship, broke clear of a congested leaderboard by holing a 19-foot birdie putt at the par-three 17th.

He then picked up his seventh shot of the day at the par-five last, where he reached the green in two and two-putted.

EXCITED HOWELL ''It's exciting now,'' Howell told reporters after taking only 25 putts in the third round.

''My first event back (this year), I couldn't really ask for much more than to be playing in the last group on Sunday.

''It was a windy day and a little jittery out there but I holed a couple of nice putts for birdie and then the two-putt up the last.'' Howell, the 2001 PGA Tour rookie of the year, said he would try to ignore any premature thoughts of victory on Sunday.

''I've got to block it out of my mind,'' he added. ''That's probably the biggest enemy in this game, thinking ahead.

''I've got to stay right here with what I'm doing.'' Howell has twice fallen back after holding at least a share of the lead after 54 holes at a PGA Tour event, losing a playoff to Mike Weir for the 2003 Nissan Open and finishing second behind Ben Curtis at last year's Lumber Classic.

Donald, a double winner on the PGA Tour, was happy with his fightback over the closing stretch after dropping two shots in the first six holes.

GREAT POSITION ''Three-under-par for the last 10 holes was satisfactory,'' he said. ''I'm in great position for tomorrow.'' Goydos, whose only PGA Tour victory came at the Bay Hill Invitational, was also in positive mood after signing off with a birdie at the last.

''I was hanging by a thread there,'' he said after returning a level-par round in the steady trade wind. ''It played tough out there and par was not going to be a horrendous score.

''All in all, I'm still in pretty good shape. What you're really looking for is a chance on Sunday, and I've got that.'' Steve Stricker (67) and Ted Purdy (66) were tied for fourth at nine under, a stroke ahead of fellow Americans Jim Furyk (69) and next year's U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger (68).

Honolulu schoolboy Fujikawa, who became the second-youngest player to make a PGA Tour cut on Friday, continued his magical week by vaulting into contention with a 66.

The diminutive 16-year-old amateur rattled up six birdies and two bogeys to finish at seven under in a four-way tie for eighth place.

''I feel great, just experiencing what it's like to play alongside the top professionals is something else,'' Fujikawa said.

''It's the best feeling in the world.'' REUTERS PDS BS1537