Golf: Wilkinson goes low in Idaho

Manawatu professional Tim Wilkinson has carded a five-under par 66 to jump 20 places and into contention at the Albertsons Boise Open on the web.com Tour in Idaho today.

The former PGA Tour player, who is currently 66th on the web.com Tour money list, is in a share of 15th place on an 11-under par total, seven shots back from the American leader Michael Putnam.

Wilkinson made seven birdies and two bogeys in his third round at the Hillcrest Country Club in Boise that gives him a chance of beating his best performance of 2012 - a tie for ninth at the Panama Championship in March.

New Zealand No 1 Danny Lee, who was tied 19th, failed to keep pace.

The 21-year-old from Rotorua, who missed out on the Fed Ex Cup Playoffs and will have to fight for his PGA Tour card in the Fall Series, fell 20 places to a share of 39th after an even par 71.

Hamilton professional Steve Alker had a one-over par 72 to miss the cut by four shots.

Alker and Wilkinson are in 81st and 66th position on the web.com Tour's money list respectively and need good results to advance to the PGA Tour by finishing inside the top 25.

On the Japan Golf Tour, Richard Lee has carded back to back rounds of three-under par 69 at the ANA Open to climb into a share of 24th place.

Lee, who opened with an even par 72 to be tied 77th, was in danger of missing the cut but rallied well in the second round and third round.

He will begin the final round eight shots back from South Korean Hyung-Sung Kim who leads by two on a 14-under par total.

Lee is looking to improve on his best performance from 2012, a tie for 22nd at the Kansai Open Championship.

He is in 100th place on the Order of Merit and he needs to climb 30 places to keep his card in 2013.