Early slip costs Barnes outright lead

By Mark Lamport-Stokes
FARMINGDALE, New York (Reuters) - American Ricky Barnes became only the fourth player to reach double digits under par at a U.S. Open when he eagled the par-five fourth hole at Bethpage Black on Sunday.
A stroke in front after the rain-delayed second round was completed the previous day, the PGA Tour rookie drained a 25-foot putt to get to 11 under in the third round.
He then narrowly missed a birdie attempt at the par-four fifth to stay three ahead of his compatriot and playing partner Lucas Glover.
Canadian left-hander Mike Weir, the 2003 U.S. Masters champion, was a further shot back in third at seven under after five holes.
Only three other players had previously reached double digits under par at a U.S. Open.
World number one Tiger Woods clinched the 2000 title at Pebble Beach with a 12-under total of 272 and fellow American Gil Morgan got to 12 under at the same venue during the third round in 1992.
Jim Furyk of the U.S. reached 11 under at Olympia Fields in 2003 before winning the tournament with an eight-under aggregate.
ATTACKING PINS
Although Bethpage Black at 7,426 yards is the second longest layout to stage a U.S. Open, rain-softened conditions this week have allowed the players to attack the pins with impunity.
Barnes, who grabbed the overall lead by firing a five-under-par 65 on Saturday for a record 36-hole total of eight-under 132, took advantage early in round three with a birdie at the par-four second.
That put him two strokes clear of the chasing pack before his spectacular eagle at the fourth.
While Barnes relished the low-scoring conditions, three-times champion and holder Woods failed to make any headway on Sunday.
Having started the third round a distant 11 strokes off the pace, he bogeyed the par-three 14th, his fifth hole, after taking two shots to escape thick fescue grass on the edge of a greenside bunker.
Although Woods chipped in from greenside rough to birdie the par-three 17th and get back to three over, he trailed the pacesetting Barnes by 14 strokes.
The 109th U.S. Open was heading for a Monday finish at the earliest after heavy overnight rain delayed the resumption of the third round by 4-1/2 hours on Sunday morning.
(Editing by Sonia Oxley)

Source: Reuters