TIMONIUM, Md. - Loren Roberts has been here before, leading the Senior Players Championship after 54 holes.
He can only hope for a better ending this time around.
Roberts overcame a slow start to shoot a 3-under-par 67 Saturday and take a three-stroke lead over Fred Funk in the Champions Tour's final major tournament of the year.
A year ago, Roberts held a two-shot lead after three rounds. But he shot a 74 on the final day to tie for third.
Roberts intends to dismiss that memory when he tees off in the final threesome today with Funk, a local favorite who shot a 66, and Tom Watson, who shot a 68 to forge into third place at 5 under.
"I'm just going to go out and play golf. That's what I've been doing for the first three days," Roberts said. "I expect it to be a lot of fun with Fred and Tom Watson on top of that." PGA TOUR Parnevik leads by 3
SAN ANTONIO - Jesper Parnevik moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory in 6 1/2 years, shooting a 4-under-par 66 on Saturday to take a threestroke lead into the final round of the Texas Open.
The 42-year-old Swede had an 18-under 192 total on the LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course after opening with rounds of 61 and 65.
He won the last of his five PGA Tour titles in the 2001 Honda Classic.
"It was tough out there, I thought, for me," he said.
"I was not very relaxed over the shots or the putts. Now, when I haven't played that great for a while, it's a lot tougher because those bad shots seem to stick in your mind somewhere."
Because of the long time since his last victory, Parnevik said he had some doubts about his game even though he entered the round with a four-shot lead.
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) is at 203 after a 68 with an eagle on No. 14, a birdie and a bogey.
Glen Day (Little Rock) shot a 67 with five birdies and two bogeys and is at 206. Craig Lile (Arkansas Razorbacks) is at 208 after a 69 with five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Bryce Molder (Conway) is another stroke back after a 72 with four birdies and six bogeys.
LPGA TOUR
Peterson matches record
DANVILLE, Calif. - Suzann Pettersen chipped in from about 35 yards on the ninth hole for her second eagle of the round, and finished with a season-best 8-under-par 64 to take the thirdround lead in the Longs Drugs Challenge.
Pettersen, the 26-year-old Norwegian who won the Michelob Ultra Open in May for her first LPGA Tour title and took the McDonald's LPGA Championship in June for her first major victory, had a 12-under 204 total for a one-stroke lead over Canadian Lorie Kane (67). Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa (67) was another stroke behind at 10 under.
PGA EUROPEAN Dougherty leads by 3
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Nick Dougherty took a threestroke lead in the Dunhill Links championship Saturday after a 6-under 66, his best round at St. Andrews.
The 25-year-old Englishman had a 17-under 199 total after three rounds at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course at St. Andrew's. Peter O'Malley shot 69 on the Old Course and was second.
NATIONWIDE Johnson second
RANCHO CUCAMONGA,Calif. - Richard Johnson (Fort Smith) moved up from a tie for ninth into second place Saturday in the third round of the Mark Christopher Charity Classic.
Johnson shot a 2-under-par 69 Saturday with four birdies and two bogeys and is one stroke behind the leader Tom Gillis at 206.
Brenden Pappas (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 74 with two birdies, a bogey and two double bogeys and is at 209. Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) is at 212 after a 69 with four birdies and two bogeys. And Deane Pappas (Razorbacks) is at 214 after a 72 with three birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Sports, Pages 33 on 10/07/2007