SUNRIVER, Ore. — Brad Bryant came off the course Saturday at the Jeld-Wen Tradition with a huge grin.
He had just shot a 5-underpar 67 to take a two-stroke advantage over Mike Reid into the final round.
Bryant padded his lead to go to 15 under at Crosswater Golf Club in central Oregon. He has stayed atop the leaderboard after shooting a career-best 10-under 62 in the opening round, matching a tournament record.
"I'd like to play tomorrow exactly like I played today. If I do that, I don'tcare if I win or not," he said Saturday. "If I play as well tomorrow as I did today and somebody beats me, they deserve it more than me."
Reid birdied the par-4 No. 18 to finish with a 66 and go to 13 under in the fourth of five majors on the Champions Tour.
Bryant had back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. He came close to another one on the par-3 No. 17, but his putt came to rest on the lip of the hole.
John Cook had a 68, putting him at 12 under going into today's final round. Larry Mize was at 10 under after a third-round 70.
"Definitely could have been a little more tidy today," Cook said. "But I'm happy with that."
Bryant's low opening round matched Tom Watson's mark set in 2003 and Doug Tewell's in 2001.
Bryant's best finish of the year was fourth at the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in June. He has four overall tour victories, his last coming at the Senior U.S. Open in 2007.
"That was one of the most solid rounds I've played all year," Bryant said Saturday. "Actually, today was more encouraging than when I shot 62." PGA TOUR
Riley, Garcia share lead
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sergio Garcia and Chris Riley were both 13 under par through 10 holes to share the clubhouse lead Saturday night when play was stopped midway through the third round of the rain-plagued Wyndham Championship.
Steve Marino, Fred Couples, Kevin Stadler and Justin Rose were 12 under, and Brandt Snedeker and Bill Haas were 11 under through varying stages of their rounds when play was suspended because of darkness.
Glen Day (Little Rock) is tied for ninth on the leaderboard at 10 under through 13 holes. Bryce Molder (Conway) completed the third round, shooting a 67 after back-to-back 68s, and is at 7-under 203. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) was at 4 under through 12 holes. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) completed the third round, shooting a 73 for 1-under 209.
Tournament officials said the round was scheduled to resume today at 7:30 a.m. EST, with a second cut and the final round to begin at roughly 11 a.m.
During yet another long day with abbreviated play at the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club - where two weather delays lasted nearly 5 1 /2 hours combined - there were a few highlights.
Marino, who started the round six strokes off the pace, had seven birdies to vault up the leaderboard - including one on the par-3 No. 16 in which his tee shot landed 7 inches from the flagstick.
Couples, the U.S. President's Cup captain who's still considering his final picks, birdied four of his first eight holes to move into contention for his first victory since 2003.
And Rose had five birdies to rally after starting the round four strokes back.
NATIONWIDE TOUR Sim on top in Kansas
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas - Michael Sim holds a threeshot lead in the Nationwide Tour's Christmas in October Classic after shooting a 6-underpar 65 on Saturday.
Josh Teater, who shot a low round of 8 under, is tied with Steve Wheatcroft and Tom Gillis with a three-day score of 200.
Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot a three-under-par 68 on Saturday and is at 205 for the tournament. His round included six birdies and three bogeys.
Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot a 4-under 67 and is at 208 for the tournament. His round included six birdies and two bogeys.
Sports, Pages 34 on 08/23/2009