Joel Edwards, who last month captured his first title in 11 years on the U.S. PGA Tour, shot a seven-under-par 65 to snatch the lead after the third round of the $3.4 million Buick Challenge last night.
The 39-year-old’s excellent round at the Callaway Gardens Resort gave him an 18-under-par aggregate of 198 and a one-stroke advantage over second-round leader Davis Love III, who followed up Friday's 62 with a 69 in very cool, windy conditions.
"You can't make mistakes," Love said. "I hit a couple of bad drives and wound up with bogeys on holes that had been birdies. That's the difference."
Neal Lancaster was third on 200 following a 68, with Chris DiMarco fourth on 202 after his 71. Bob Estes (69) and Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson (68) were a further stroke adrift, with defending champion David Duval (68) and Mark O'Meara (68) on 204.
Edwards's 65 gave him a chance to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship next week. The Texan would move into the top 30 on the money list if he scooped the $612,000 first prize today and would earn a spot in the lucrative season finale for the first time.
Edwards led after 54 holes for only the second time in his career but insisted a berth in the Tour Championship would not be on his mind during the final round.
"If it happens, it happens," said Edwards, who played 315 tournaments before claiming his first title at the Air Canada Championship early last month - the longest stretch in U.S. PGA Tour history for a breakthrough win.
While Edwards said he would not be thinking about the Tour Championship, it was uppermost in the mind of Jesper Parnevik, who kept alive his chances of cracking the top 30 by carding a five-under-par 67 after barely making the cut on Friday.
"Oh yeah, I'm thinking about it," admitted Parnevik. The Swede is currently 31st on the money list but trails Kenny Perry, who is 30th, by less than $700.