Las Vegas, Nevada, Oct 12: Jim Furyk, who has achieved three of his seven US PGA tour victories at the Las Vegas Classic, fired an eight-under-par 64 to take a one-shot lead after the third round of the five million dollars, 90-hole event. The American Ryder Cup player was 20-under on 195 yesterday, one ahead of Jeff Sluman (64). Charles Howell III (66), who shared the overnight lead with Furyk, and Australia's Stuart Appleby (64) shared fourth place on 198.

Chris Dimarco and former US Open champions Steve Jones and Lee Janzen were four strokes off the pace in a tie for fifth position. Ten players, including 2001 British Open champion David Duval, were on 200. Before Furyk even teed off, he had drifted down the leaderboard as the lack of wind made for ideal scoring conditions on the three courses -- the TPC at Summerlin, TPC at the canyons and southern highlands, used in the first three rounds.

Tom Scherrer, who is in danger of losing his playing privileges at the end of this season when his exemption for winning the 2000 kemper open expires, bolted into the early lead when an eight-under 64 on the TPC at Summerlin put him on 201.

But Scherrer's clubhouse lead did not last long as a handful of players passed him. He ended the day in a tie for 18th place, six shots behind Furyk.

Bureau Report