Goosen, Immelman lead South African challenge at Wachovia

ATLANTA, May 7 (Reuters) Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman kept the South African flag flying high with strong finishes in the Wachovia Championship third round in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Twice US Open winner Goosen reeled off seven birdies in the last nine holes for a seven-under-par 65, ending a day of low scoring tied for second with his compatriot at 10-under 206 yesterday.

Immelman picked up four shots over the treacherous closing stretch at Quail Hollow Club for a 66, signing off in style by rolling in a 20-foot birdie putt at the last.

The South African duo will start today's final round one stroke behind American Jim Furyk, with teeoff times brought forward five hours because of thunderstorms forecast for the afternoon.

''I'm happy where I am and hopefully tomorrow we can get 18 holes in,'' Goosen told reporters after marring his superb run with a bogey at the par-four 18th, where he pulled his drive into a creek lining the left of the fairway.

''It could be a long day out there tomorrow playing in three-balls, especially if it's going to be raining with umbrellas and whatever.

''I'm hitting the ball pretty good, and that gives me confidence going into tomorrow.'' Goosen, U.S. Open champion at Southern Hills in 2001 and Shinnecock Hills in 2004, triggered his red-hot finish by chipping in for birdie at the par-four 11th.

''That's when things really started turning around,'' the 37-year-old said after making the most of greens softened by overnight rain. ''I felt like something started happening.'' He went on to birdie 12 and 13, where he holed a 25-footer, before picking up further shots at 15, 16 and 17.

''The greens were holding and rolling perfect,'' Goosen added.

''It was really just the rain that softened up the course that made the scoring easier today.'' Immelman was delighted after giving himself a chance to clinch a maiden PGA Tour title.

''My putter hung in there with me, so that was nice,'' the 26-year-old from Cape Town said after covering the last 12 holes in seven under. ''All in all, a pretty solid round.

''I think I'm starting to find my feet a little bit over here,'' added Immelman, who tied for seventh at the Nissan Open in Los Angeles in February.

''Playing a full schedule this year, I knew I could kind of pace myself and maybe try and gain some momentum as the year goes.

''I don't think I've tried to force it as much, and that's a nice feeling. I think that's a sign I'm starting to feel a little more comfortable.'' REUTERS PDS ND0926