Sat May 17 17:35:35 2008

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Rookie Im making first Canadian start a good one

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Riviera Maya, Mexico (Sports Network) - Daniel Im, who is making his first start on the Canadian Tour, only managed an even-par 72 on Saturday, but it was enough to take the third-round lead of the Riviera Maya Open.

Im, 23, finished 54 holes at eight-under-par 208 at Iberostar Playa Paraiso Golf Club.

Im shared the overnight lead with Craig Matthew and Brent Schwarzrock, who struggled to a one-over 73 on Saturday. Schwarzrock is tied for second place with Ryan Thornberry, who carded a two-under 70 in round three, at seven- under-par 209.

James Love (70), Oscar Serna (71) and Tom Stankowski (72) are tied for fourth place at minus-six.

Swirling winds and extreme heat led to high scores on Saturday.

Im did not get off to the kind of start one thinks of from a leader. He bogeyed the first, then bogeyed three in a row from the sixth to fall to four- under par for the championship.

Im, who has toiled in smaller circuits since graduating from UCLA, stopped the bleeding some with back-to-back birdies from the ninth. He bogeyed No. 12, but three birdies in his next four holes gave him the 54-hole lead.

Ricardo Carrillo (70), Scott Gibson (69) and Will Dodson (71) share seventh at four-under 212.

Matthew struggled to a six-over 78 and fell into a tie for 16th at two-under 214.