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Imada moves three clear

Ryuji Imada posted a six-under 66 on Saturday to grab a three-shot lead after 54 holes of the Buy.com Greater Cleveland Open. His 20-under 196 broke the previous 54-hole record by two strokes and distanced himself from Heath Slocum (69), his co-leader after the second round.

Jim Benepe (68) is alone in third at 16-under par, followed by Jay Hobby (66) and Mike Brisky (67), who are tied for fourth at minus-15.

For a good portion of the third round, Imada and Benepe were battling for the top spot. Benepe opened with a 25-foot eagle at the first, and three more birdies through eight holes. Imada two-putted from 40 feet at the first and then two-putted from 30 feet for another birdie at five.

Both players bogeyed the par-four ninth. Benepe missed the putting surface left and then hit a bad chip before he missed his 10-foot par save. Imada pulled a five-iron from over 200 yards out and then failed to convert his five-foot par putt.

Benepe, who played in the group ahead of Imada, two-putted from 30 feet for birdie at 10 and then played a wedge to 18 feet at the par-four 14th to set up birdie. Imada two-putted from 35 feet for birdie at 10 and added another with a seven-footer at 12.

Imada carded a bogey at 13 when his approach plugged in a greenside bunker. He reclaimed the lost stroke with chip-in birdie at No. 14 from 30 yards.

The par-five 15th proved to be a huge swing in the tournament. Benepe drove through the fairway and later found his ball plugged into the lip of a bunker. He three-putted from 40 feet and took double-bogey.

Imada roped a two-iron down the fairway at 15 and the chipped to four feet for his third shot. He converted the birdie effort and completed a three- shot swing with Benepe.

Slocum parred eight holes in a row before a nine-foot birdie at 1. After Benepe's miscue at 15, Slocum had second place to himself.

Imada spoke about what has enabled him to break David Jackson's nine-year 54-hole record.

"I think it has a lot to do with the conditions of the course," said Imada, who is seeking his second Buy.com Tour victory. "The golf course is in fabulous shape, and the greens are awesome, but the greens are soft still, so you can really take advantage of them. Today was a little bit windy, but the first two days were hot but nice days, and that's why you have seen some good scores out here."

The difference between the two co-leaders from Friday was the play on par- fives. Imada birdied all five at Quail Hollow Country Club, while Slocum could only take advantage of one.

"The par-fives are key out here," Slocum said. "I really didn't play them that well. I drove it really well off those holes. I just didn't hit very good shots into the greens, and from there you have your work cut out for you."

Rob McMillan and Paul Claxton are knotted at 13-under 203, while Darron Stiles is alone in eighth place at minus-11.

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