2006 RESULTS - ROUND 3, NOVEMBER 17
Leading The Pack: Carpenter Overcomes Early Inconsistency To Retain Lead
In many team sports, it's important to keep an opponent down immediately after making a dramatic score or dominating for an extended period of time. In golf, especially at the TaylorMade Invitational, that's difficult to do because it's so difficult to string together a series of great rounds at Vista Vallarta. Just ask TaylorMade Invitational leader Tom Carpenter.
After firing a 9-under-par 63 that catapulted him four strokes past Jimmy Letourneau in the second round on Thursday, Carpenter again headed to the Nicklaus course Friday and carded a 69, but experienced some dramatic ups-and-downs early in the morning. In fact, the South Carolina pro didn't record his first par until the 11th hole, breaking up solid birdies at holes 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 with two bogeys and one double bogey.
"I think I'm just mentally tired," admitted Carpenter, who indicated he has never played a four-round tournament in his short career as a pro. "I drove the ball very well and stayed aggressive on the front nine, but I couldn't find a rhythm. There were more distractions and my routine was off."
On the second nine, though, Carpenter leveled his game. "I had to get myself back on track and the wind was picking up, so I began firing more at the center of the greens," he said.
The approach produced stability in the form of six pars, two birdies and one bogey and kept him four strokes ahead of his nearest challender, Connie DeMattia of Medinah Country Club in Illinois.
"It feels good to still be ahead," said Carpenter after his round. "I'm going to get a lot of rest tonight and hopefully come back strong on the Weiskopf course. I look forward to the challenge."
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DAILY SCORES - ROUND 3, NOVEMBER 17