Lehman charges to top

Tom Lehman led a charge and the result was a revamped leaderboard after the third round of the Michelin Championship.

Lehman, Dicky Pride, Andre Stolz and Greg Chalmers – each of whom were no higher than 10th at the start of the day – all used big rounds to move into contention heading into the final 18 holes.

Two days after opening the tournament with a seven-under-par 64 on the Canyons course, Lehman surged into first place with eight birdies on the par-72 Bear’s Best.

His six-under 66 left him alone at the top of the leaderboard at 17-under 198.

Working on the par-72 Summerlin course, Pride matched Lehman’s round and moved into second place, one shot back. Pride is tied with Stolz, who had an eagle on the par-five third and was at eight under through 15 before settling for a 65.

Chalmers also carded a 64 on the Canyons, overcoming an early bogey with a run of eight birdies over 12 holes. He leads a host of players at 15-under, including second-round leader JL Lewis, who struggled to a one-under 70.

All eyes will be on Lehman, a five-time champion on tour who has failed to hoist a trophy since winning the 2000 Phoenix Open.

The 45-year-old began his round with back-to-back birdies and got two more over his first three holes on the back nine. After recording his second bogey on the par-four 14th, Lehman birdied the next three holes.

Since struggling at the British Open in July, missing a cut for the third time in six tournaments, Lehman has had more success on American soil. He had his finest result this year with a fourth-place finish at the Bell Canadian Open last month and tied for 17th at the Valero Texas Open the next weekend.