11:26pm Saturday 17th February 2007
By Owen Houlihan
DAVID Howell's search for a first win on the other side of the Atlantic will almost certainly go on for another week - but the Swindon star is still in the hunt for a top 10 finish after the third round of PGA Tour's Nissan Open.
Howell, tied fourth after round two at the Riviera Country Club on Friday, could only manage a two-over-par 73 on day three at Pacific Palisades.
That slipped him into a tie for 19th on five under par for the event, eight shots adrift of leader Phil Mickelson.
For the third day in a row, world no 17 Howell birdied the first hole on the course, but the damage was done as he dropped four shots in five holes from the fifth, including a double bogey.
Birdies at 11 and 16 handed him fresh hope, but another shot went at the long 17th.
Mickelson (13 under) holds a one-stroke advantage over Ireland's Padraig Harrington, with former US PGA champion Rich Beem a further shot back.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk