Campbell takes 4 shot advantage

Chad Campbell posted a 9-under-par 63 Saturday to grab a four-stroke lead after 54 holes of the BUY.COM Permian Basin Open.

Campbell, who grew up just 35 minutes away in Andrews, is at 21-under-par 195 for his first three trips around The Club at Mission Dorado. His three-day total eclipsed the tournament record of 198 set by Dicky Thompson in 1999 and tied by last year's champion, Kevin Johnson.

Campbell, who attended Midland College, was perfect in front of the hometown fans, hitting all 18 greens en route to equaling the best 54-hole start in TOUR history, in relation to par. Chris Smith's all-time record of 192 (21 under) at the 1997 Omaha Classic was set on a par-71 layout.

Eric Booker, Rod Pampling and John Patterson are tied for second at 17-under 199. Tom Carter is five off the pace, with Kelly Gibson, Jeff Gove, Phil Tataurangi and 36-hole leader Todd Fischer six back.

"I really hit it good today," said Campbell, winner of the BUY.COM Richmond Open. "It probably is my best round of the year. I knew I had to keep making birdies because everyone else was going to. I hit a lot of good shots out there, and it's a great feeling to have that many looks at birdie."

Campbell has missed only three greens the first three days and has been staring at birdie chances all week.

"You get a lot of wedges in your hand on this course," he said. "You just get in those little runs where the putters good."

As good as Campbell has played, with his only hiccup a three-putt bogey Friday, it could be better. The former University of Nevada-Las Vegas standout missed two birdie chances from inside 4 feet Saturday.

"I've missed several close ones, but then, too, I've made my share," he said. "I was pretty frustrated when I missed those two on 10 and 11, but then I come back and birdie the next four."

Campbell is third on the money list with $186,573 and would lock up his 2002 PGA TOUR card with a victory and the winner's check of $76,500.

"I'm trying not to think about that right now," he said. "It's hard, but I don't want to get ahead of myself. I'm trying to stay focused on this one. I just want to give myself a chance tomorrow. I have noticed the crowds are getting a little bigger every day. Hopefully, there will be a bunch of people out here on Sunday."

Booker, a member of the PGA TOUR in 1999 and 2000, has been in a monstrous slump this year. The 37-year-old former teaching pro at Warwick Hills Country Club, site of last week's Buick Open, had made only one cut in 17 tournaments on the BUY.COM TOUR this year. He has been troubled by a rotator cuff problem that was initially misdiagnosed. Finally, an MRI exam revealed the problem and he has been working to regain the form that helped him win twice on this TOUR and earn his PGA TOUR card three years ago.

"It was putting one week, driving the ball the next, chipping the next," he said. "I wish it was something consistent with my game, but it has gotten into every aspect of it. Once it gets into the short game, your confidence goes completely. It's depressing to get up and go out to play."

Booker, who had posted only eight sub-par scores in 34 rounds this year, put together a solid, bogey-free 65 that featured seven birdies on his last 12 holes.

"You're only as good as your last round, and today I'm a pretty good player," Booker said with a smile. "Three weeks ago, I was ready to send out resumes. If you play this game long enough, you know that patience is your best friend. I think my swing is better than it's ever been. The more you keep believing it, the more it works. Success breeds success."

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