By Zach Ewing

zewing@joplinglobe.com

Lee Larimore grew up within a good tee shot of Loma Linda Country Club.

He’s since moved away but returned Saturday for Moving Day of the 2007 Joplin Globe City Championship to help Briarbrook zoom up the leader board.

Larimore rebounded from a double bogey on No. 1 to shoot a 1-over-par 72, best in the tournament’s third round, to pull Briarbrook within a stroke of Twin Hills in the team race.

“Loma Linda is a tough course,” Larimore said. “The shape of Loma Linda today, you’ve got to be able to move the ball. I think Loma Linda makes a person a better player.

“I grew up around here, and I think that’s the reason I played well today.”

Twin Hills’ Brian Black extended his individual lead to three strokes. He shot 79 on a day when many leaders struggled and has a 6-over total of 220 heading into the final round, which begins at 10 a.m. today at Briarbrook in Carl Junction.

Mark Riley of Joplin Golf Club, who entered the round two shots behind Black, shot an 80 but remains in sole possession of second place with a 223.

Defending champion Larimore and Bill Curry and Mike Maier, both of Loma Linda, are in a tie for third at 225.

“I’m going to go out (today) and try to make a ton of birdies,” Larimore said. “I’m not going to hold anything back. And if I shoot 5-under and I don’t win, I still played pretty good.”

After his 6 on the par-4 first hole, Larimore rattled off 11 consecutive pars before sticking his second shot within five inches of the hole on No. 13 and tapping in for birdie. He bogied the 14th but birdied No. 16 and finished with two pars.

“Lots of pars today,” said Larimore, who entered the day 12 strokes behind Black. “I set out today to shoot 67. I haven’t had any breaks, all three rounds.”

Today, Larimore and his Briarbrook teammates will have a home-course advantage for the final round. This past Sunday, Twin Hills rode that edge to better Briarbrook by 14 strokes and take an 885-897 lead into Saturday.

But Briarbrook shot a 459 at Loma Linda, giving it a three-day total of 1,356. Twin Hills’ 466 made its total 1,355. And the race won’t necessarily end with those two. Joplin Golf Club is third, 15 strokes behind Twin Hills, and Loma Linda is just eight strokes beyond that.