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HONOLULU - SOUTH Korea's K.J. Choi, hunting his seventh PGA Tour title, had his lead trimmed to three shots midway through Sunday's final round at the Sony Open.
Four ahead of the chasing pack overnight, Choi bogeyed the fourth hole in gusting winds before missing a four-foot birdie putt at the par-five ninth to reach the turn in one-over 36.
That left him at 14 under overall in the second PGA Tour event of the season, with American Steve Marino alone in second place, also after nine holes.
South African Rory Sabbatini, after 11 holes, was a further stroke back in a tie for third at 10 under, level with American Jerry Kelly who had competed 14 holes.
World number nine Choi, who has led the tournament since the opening round at Waialae Country Club, did well to save par on the opening two holes.
He rolled in a 13-footer at the par-four first after overhitting the green with his approach and chipping back on to the green for his third shot.
He then holed out from similar range at the par-four second where he found the right rough off the tee and the left rough with his second.
Five ahead of playing partner Tim Wilkinson of New Zealand, who had bogeyed the first, Choi finally stumbled at the par-three fourth.
He missed the green to the left off the tee and chunked his second shot into the left greenside bunker before getting up and down from there for a bogey-four.
Choi parred the next four holes before looking likely to pick up his first shot of the day at the ninth where he chipped up to four feet from just short of the green in two.
However, his birdie attempt caught the right edge of the cup before lipping out and he had to settle for a three-stroke cushion as he headed off to the 10th tee.
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