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Chad Campbell closes in on Johnson Wagner at Houston Open

06/04/2008

American Chad Campbell has closed the gap at the top of the Houston Open leaderboard, trailing Johnson Wagner by one shot.

Wagner has led the tournament for the first three days, thanks to a course-record breaking score on day one, but has a fight on his hands heading into the final round.

Wagner is on 15-under for the tournament with Campbell on 14-under, Bob Estes and Charley Hoffman are tied for third place two shots further back on 12-under.

Campbell scored a third round of seven-under-par to move up from fourth place at the halfway stage. The 33-year-old could have joined Wagner at the top of the leaderboard but for a bogey at the 17th hole.

The former Tour Championship winner made four birdies in the first six holes to catch Wagner before dropping a stroke at the seventh.

However, an eagle at the eighth helped him bounce back and he continued to go shot for shot with Wagner down the back nine until his mistake at the penultimate hole.

Wagner admitted Campbell's form at the start of the third round had him worried but he was pleased with how he had responded.

"I definitely didn't like starting with a three-shot lead and seeing it erased immediately," Wagner explained.

"I really held it together, hit a bunch of greens - and didn't really have to work too hard."

Estes came close to equalling Wagner's course record with his third round 64. He holed five birdies on the front nine and notched three more on his way to an error-free round.