Golfing News

Former Masters champion Zach Johnson took the lead at the Sony Open of Hawaii with a deft third round Saturday, but native son Tadd Fujikawa was by far the hot topic of the day at Waialae Country Club.

Fujikawa, the 18-year-old who made the Sony Open cut in 2006 at the tender age of 16, made the most of his sponsor’s exemption spot. The 5-foot 1-inch Fjuikawa went out in the sixth of 39 twosomes Saturday and shot an 8-under 62.

Fujikawa turned pro last year, and didn’t make any cuts playing exemptions on the PGA, Nationwide and European Tours. After making his first professional cut after shooting a 69 n Friday, he signed for his 62, the low round of the tournament, 45 minutes before leaders Nathan Green and Tom Pernice Jr. even teed off, and 30 minutes before The Golf Channel began its Saturday coverage. His 8-under par total of 202 was in the lead or tied for it for two and a half hours.

Fujikawa birdied the first three holes, no easy task in the breezes at Waialae, before bogeying No. 4. He birdied 6, then 9 through 11 then the final two holes. On 18, a 554-yard par-5, he banged a 3-wood out of a bunker on to the green for a two-putt closing bird.

Meanwhile, Johnson, with much less fanfare, quietly shot a bogey-free 4-under 66 to take the lead by 1 shot over a crowded leaderboard. David Toms (65 Saturday), Brian Green (68), Shigeki Maruyama (68) and Green (69) are at 9-under. Fujikawa is joined at 8-under by George McNeil (65), Boo Weekly (67) and Charles Howell III (67).

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