Pampling leads Ohio Memorial tournament

Rod Pampling has won Arnold Palmer's tournament and now, after rallying at the Ohio Memorial tournament, he is on the verge of winning Jack Nicklaus'.

Pampling overcame a slow start on Saturday, storming home with a sizzling back nine to open a three-shot lead after the third round at the Nicklaus-hosted competition.

He finished in style with a birdie at the par-four 18th, where he hit a superb nine-iron shot from a fairway bunker to three feet to jump clear in ideal conditions at Muirfield Village.

"The back nine really gives me a lot of confidence for tomorrow," Pampling said after posting a 15-under 201 total.

Fellow Australian Adam Scott (72) bogeyed the last to fall back into a tie for second with Sean O'Hair (69), while Stewart Cink and Will MacKenzie both shot 65 to jump into contention, four shots off the pace with Aaron Baddeley (71).

Pampling, whose two PGA Tour victories include last year's Palmer Invitational, was only one shot ahead going to the last, but was on the right end of a two-shot swing, as Scott made bogey.

They both pushed their drives, but where Pampling found a nice lie, Scott drew a poor lie in thick rough and could not advance his second shot to the green.

"I guess it's just the luck of the draw," Pampling said. "We both hit shots exactly the same off the tee. I had a nice lie and Adam had a gnarly lie.

"Thankfully it went my way and I hit a great shot (although) I pushed it a little."

Pampling was eager to up the pressure on his rival with a similarly collected performance in today's round.

"If I make my share of birdies again, keep the mistakes to a minimum, it puts more pressure on those guys, because they have to make the birdies, whereas I don't have to be as aggressive if there's a tough pin," he continued.

"I know I'm playing good, and the putting was nice again today."

Scott started the day with a one-shot lead and was still tied for the top spot with five holes to play, before Pampling birdied the 14th, 15th and 18th.

"The last hole was pretty disappointing," said Scott. "Three strokes back makes it a little harder, but the good thing is I'm still playing with Rod and I'll know what's going on so I can put the pressure on hopefully.

"I didn't really get it going, never got any momentum going. The last three holes were a bit scruffy. It's pretty hard to back up a (second round) 62."

MacKenzie, meanwhile, has more to play for than the other contenders Sunday, because victory will earn him a berth in this month's United States Open.

The others are already in the field, with the exception of O'Hair, who cannot qualify without going through Monday's sectional qualifying, even if he wins.

MacKenzie, however, can qualify in the category reserved for anyone winning twice on tour since last year's Open.

"Easy man, don't be making me think about anything," he said, when reminded of the stakes.

Earlier, play was suspended for two-and-a-half hours due to nearby lightning, shortly before the leaders were scheduled to tee off.

With thunderstorms scheduled for Sunday's round, tee times were moved forward in an effort to beat the expected bad weather.