US Tour:South Korea's KJ Choi, urged on by his fans, closed in on a seventh PGA Tour victory by forging four shots clear in the third round at the Sony Open in Honolulu on Saturday.
Two ahead overnight in the second PGA Tour event of the season, the world number nine kept his closest challengers at bay with a four-under-par 66 at Waialae Country Club.
Choi, who has led the tournament since the opening round, birdied the first two holes before ending the day at 15-under 195.
Tour rookie Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand fired a best-of-the-week 62 to lie second at 11 under, a stroke in front of Americans Steve Marino (68) and Kevin Na (69).
American Chad Campbell birdied four of the first six holes en route to a 66 and joint-fifth place at nine under with compatriots Troy Matteson (65) and Jay Williamson (66) and South Africa's Rory Sabbatini (66).
"I started out with birdies and felt like I was going to have a very good day," said Choi.
"During the middle of the round I faced a lot of difficult pin positions which made it a little bit difficult but I think my putting was there to hold up the round real nicely."
Eleven of Choi's closest friends, wearing matching yellow shirts and waving their national flag, supported him out on the course after flying into Hawaii from Korea earlier in the day.
