KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Ernie Els established the PGA Tour's 54-hole scoring record Saturday and he still could not pull away from K.J. Choi.
On another ideal day for scoring at normally blustery Kapalua Resort Plantation Course, Els carded an 8-under-par 65 for a two-shot lead over Choi after the third round of the season-opening Mercedes Championships.
Els double-bogeyed the 17th hole Satursday, but still had a 54-hole total of 25-under 195, one lower than the aggregate record set by John Cook at the 1996 St. Jude Classic and matched by Mark Calcavecchia at the 2001 Phoenix Open.
Choi ended the day as the only player within six shots of Els, setting a Plantation Course record with a bogey-free 11-under 62. Steve Pate shot a 63 in 1997 and David Duval matched it in 1999.
Retief Goosen was third at 18-under 201 after shooting a 66. Bob Estes, Jerry Kelly and Chris Riley were tied for fourth at 202.
