Van de Velde sets up winning chance

Frenchman Jean Van de Velde shot a 7-under-par 65 in windy conditions today to take a two-stroke lead after the third round of the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Van de Velde, famous for squandering a three-stroke lead on the final hole of the Open last year at Carnoustie, had a 13-under 203 total.

Brian Henninger, who matched the course record with a 63 in the second round, shot a 71 for a 205 total. Bob May, who lost a playoff to Tiger Woods last week in the PGA Championship, was another stroke back along with David Toms and Doug Dunakey.

Van de Velde hasn't won on the PGA European Tour since 1993 and is angling for his first PGA Tour victory.

"I think the memory is still going to be alive no matter how many wins I have,'' Van de Velde said of the disastrous finish 13 months ago. "But you have to move on. If I arrive three ahead here on the 72nd hole, let's see if I can manage to do better than a triple.''

Van de Velde, who started the day four strokes behind Henninger, said he could tell on the practice range that a good round would be difficult with the wind gusting from 15 to 25 mph on the Montreux course on the edge of the Sierra Nevada.

"In Europe, it's very common to us. I was very patient and hit two good shots coming in,'' he said.

On the 584-yard, par-5 14th, he hooked a 2-iron shot around a tree and hit a wedge within 3 feet to set up a birdie putt. On the par-4 18th, he hit a wedge within 3 feet again and made another birdie.

"The competition is very, very high here. If I'm lucky to pull it out, I'd be very, very happy,'' he said.

Van de Velde, who remains in good spirits despite being forced to relive the Carnoustie disaster, said the overall experience there was a good one.

"The only one painful thing is I didn't have my name on the trophy,'' he said. He said the response from fans around the world has been overwhelmingly supportive.

"I was leading by three with a few shots to go. It really proved to me I've got what it takes to do it.''

Dunakey, best known for shooting a 59 on the Nike Tour in 1998, had the best round today -- an 8-under 64.

"I felt comfortable probably because I was so far from the lead,'' Dunakey said. "I'm thinking there's no reason to get stressed out. The worst case scenario is I'd have to get a job.''

Dunakey tied Notah Begay's record for the lowest round on the Nike Tour, now known as the Buy.com Tour, with a 59 two years ago. Today, he hit a 5-iron within 15 feet of the pin on the 518-yard, par-5 fourth hole and made the putt for eagle, then dropped a 50-foot putt for birdie on the 439-yard, par-4 sixth.

"I haven't made a putt like that in a couple of years,'' he said.

Begay, playing in the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational this week, won the inaugural Reno-Tahoe Open last year and has added three other tour victories.

"One thing I was thinking about out there was that Notah won here last year and he's one of the 59 club. I thought if he can kick start his year here, maybe I could too,'' Dunakey said.

May birdied the 18th hole for a 70, and Toms shot a 69 to join Dunakey at 206.

Peter Jacobsen, who opened with rounds of 66 and 69, shot a 76 to drop eight strokes back at 5-under 211.

Spanish star Sergio Garcia entered the third round at 5-under, but had a 75 today to slip to 2-under.

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