PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The face of the tournament changed as Chris Moody of Provo, Utah, fired a scorching 6-under-par 66 on a picture-perfect Saturday at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., to move into the lead with an 11-under-par 205 following the third-round of the 2007 TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship.
Troy Muller of Deltona, Fla., turned in an even par 72 and sits five-strokes off the pace at 6-under 210. First-round leader Greg Bisconti of South Salem, N.Y., and Bob Jacobson of Pasadena, Calif., shared third at 211.
Moody, a 32-year-old assistant professional at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah, who began the round one-stroke back of Muller, carded four birdies, one eagle and no bogeys during his round at The PGA Golf Club's Wanamaker Course.
"I only missed one green and I missed that green by a foot," said Moody, who is competing in his third Assistant's National Championship. "I left a few more putts out on the course today that I could have made and gone even lower."
Moody knew his round was going to be good when he left the driving range this morning.
"I was on the range today and I put down a club to help with alignment and everything looked good to my eyes," said Moody. "I stood over every ball and trusted that it was going to go where I aimed."
Moody, however, is not ready to claim the title just yet.
"I have been playing pretty conservative all week so there will be no real change in my mind set or how I play," said Moody. "I just need to hit fairways and greens."
Muller, a 29-year-old assistant professional at Derbary Golf and Country Club in Deltona, Fla., had to battle to get his round back to even-par.
"I started off pretty rough today," said Muller, who is playing in his first Assistant's National Championship. "But I was able to bounce back with huge birdie putts on the 16th and 17th which gave me confidence going into the final round."
Muller knows that it is going to take a monumental performance to overtake Moody.
"I have to be much more aggressive tomorrow," said Moody. "There are only a few holes out there that you can not go right at, so I will be pin-seeking as much as possible."
Jacobson, an assistant professional at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena, Calif., believes the Assistant's Championship may not be over just yet.
"I think I have given myself a chance," said Jacobson, who is competing in his second Assistant's National Championship. "Chris Moody is a good player and I know he will be ready, so I have to be ready as well."
Jim Herman, an assistant professional at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., sits alone in fifth place at 4-under 211.
Three-time Champion Kyle Flinton of Edmond, Okla., an assistant professional at Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City, Okla., shot a 73 and is currently in a tie for 11th place. Flinton captured titles in 2002, '03 and '05.
The field was trimmed to the low 70 scorers and ties after Friday's second-round, with 71 players advancing at 6-over-par to play the final two weekend rounds at the Wanamaker Course.
TaylorMade-adidas Golf returns is serving as title sponsor for the eighth consecutive year. The field includes assistant professional champions from Canada and England.
For more then 30 years, this Championship has produced many outstanding PGA Professionals who have gone onto successful careers in teaching and administering the game, as well as competing at the highest level on the PGA and Champions Tours.
The winner of the TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Assistant Professional Championship will collect $9,000 of the $100,000 purse and if eligible, will earn a berth in the 2008 PGA Professional National Championship at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga. And, the low apprentice, if eligible, will be invited to the 2008 Australian PGA National Futures Championship.
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
Third Round Scores:
Chris Moody, Provo, Utah 71-68-66--205
Troy Muller, Deltona, Fla. 70-68-72--210
Bob Jacobson, Pasadena, Calif. 73-70-68--211
Greg Bisconti, South Salem, N.Y. 69-71-71--211
Jim Herman, Cincinnati, Ohio 71-73-68--212
Scott Medlin, Hamlet, N.C. 75-71-67--213
David Von Hoffmann, Palm Bch Gardns, Fla. 71-70-72--213
Anthony Johnson, San Antonio, Texas 72-68-73--213
Alan Zimmerman, North Palm Beach, Fla. 70-73-71--214
Mike Townsend, Wilmington, N.C. 70-70-74--214
Michael Suhre, Edwardsville, Ill. 75-73-67--215
Paul Scaletta, Palm Bch Grdns, Fla. 77-69-69--215
Steven Scott, Wellington, Fla. 71-73-71--215
Davidde Giordano, Rochester, N.Y. 74-69-72--215
Tim Feenstra, Issaquah, Wash. 75-67-73--215
Kyle Flinton, Edmond, Okla. 73-69-73--215
Adam Corson, State College, Pa. 76-72-68--216
Matt Dobyns, Croton-On-Hudson N.Y. 76-73-67--216
Bob Rittberger, Garden City, N.Y. 76-73-67--216
Mike Meehan, Locust Valley, N.Y. 74-73-70--217
Cory Schneider, Powells Point, N.C. 72-72-73--217
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo. 73-70-74--217
David Solomon, Long Beach, Calif. 72-71-74--217
Ryan Sikora, Greensburg, Pa. 75-71-72--218
Joe O'Brien, Wayzata, Minn. 74-72-72--218
Thomas Wolfenberger, Houston, Texas 75-73-70--218
Jeff Martin, Warwick, R.I. 76-73-69--218
Travis Deibert, Doylestown, Pa. 71-72-75--218
Andy Blanton, Columbus, Ga. 71-72-75--218
Matt Larson, Alpharetta, Ga. 72-68-78--218
Bryant Odom, Sea Island, Ga. 73-74-72--219
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 74-70-75--219
Nate Gilchrist, Hillsdale, Mich. 76-74-69--219
Dean Larsson, Dallas, Texas 75-72-73--220
Trent Rommann, El Paso, Texas 76-71-73--220
Todd Lancaster, Aurora, Ohio 75-72-73--220
Boomer Erick, Naples, Fla. 73-75-72--220
Jonathan Lupton, England 77-68-75--220
Jack Steinicke, Pickerington, Ohio 74-71-75--220
Marty Jertson, Cave Creek, Ariz. 75-74-71--220
Charles Pasco, Beverly Hills, Mich. 77-73-70--220
Paul Norris, Dallas, Texas 73-73-75--221
Jay Lindell, Lakewood, N.Y. 73-75-73--221
Eric Manning, Utica, N.Y. 73-72-76--221
Blake Watts, Louisville, Ky. 71-76-75--222
Ray Otis, San Jose, Calif. 72-74-76--222
Stephen Ubernosky, Kingwood, Texas 73-75-74--222
Steve Parker, Houston, Texas 77-73-72--222
Chris Happ, Winnetka, Ill. 76-70-77--223
Ricky Touma, Olney, Md. 75-73-75--223
Burke Cromer, Chapin, S. C. 72-74-77--223
Keith Burdette, Chattanooga, Tenn. 74-75-74--223
Brian Brodell, Madison, Wis. 74-75-74--223
Michael Scott, Bettendorf, Iowa 76-74-73--223
Rich Dukelow, Orland Park, Ill. 78-70-76--224
Jon Jones, Warren, Ohio 76-72-76--224
Jeff Page, Memphis, Tenn. 74-75-75--224
Michael Labrutto, Cranford, N.J. 77-73-74--224
David Hutsell, Baltimore, Md. 76-71-78--225
Cory Etter, Heflin, Ala. 78-70-77--225
J. D. Auping, St. Charles, Mo. 73-76-76--225
Chad Penman, Fort Wayne, Ind. 71-78-76--225
Mark Owen, Draper, Utah 73-77-75--225
Chris Gilley, Costa Mesa, Calif. 74-76-76--226
Adam Turner, Galesburg, Ill. 77-73-76--226
Samuel Kang, Rockaway, N.J. 77-70-80--227
Joey Pohle, Ardmore, Pa. 74-74-79--227
Kurt Mantyla, Milwaukee, Wis. 74-75-78--227
Chris Griffin, Tacoma, Wash. 76-73-79--228
Brent Amaral, Westport, Mass. 75-74-79--228
Rick Leal, W. Springfield, Mass 77-73-78--228
