Roberts claims narrow advantage

Loren Roberts posted a three-under 67 Saturday to take sole possession of first place at the Texas Open. Roberts' 54-hole total of 13-under-par 197 is good for a one-shot lead over a group of four players.

Garrett Willis, who set a new course record at La Cantera Golf Club during the second round, shot a 66 to move to 12-under-par 198. Willis was joined by Frank Lickliter II (65), Bob Tway (67) and Matt Peterson (67).

The top spot on the leaderboard was highly contested throughout the day as perfect conditions at the Resort Course yielded low scores once again. Roberts was part of a five-way tie for first before he stepped onto the 18th tee.

The 47-year-old hit his approach to five feet at the closing hole and drained the putt for birdie to separate himself from the pack.

"It was a very good way to end it," said Roberts. "Today is Saturday, you want to keep yourself in position to have a chance tomorrow. I'm right there for tomorrow. Today is positioning day. You can't win it today, but you can sure lose it."

Roberts, who is competing in his 17th Texas Open, is seeking his first PGA Tour victory since the 2000 Greater Milwaukee Open.

He shared the 36-hole lead and picked up his first birdie of the day at the opening hole. Roberts faltered with a bogey at the third but responded with a birdie at the par-four seventh, to make the turn at 11-under.

Roberts birdied the 11th but followed with a bogey at the very next hole. The seven-time PGA Tour winner had fallen out of the lead, but closed his round with two straight birdies to regain the top spot.

"You've got to hit the ball well and you have to make some putts to win the golf tournament," said Roberts. "Having won before, I know what to expect out of myself to get the job done. It's nice to have a little bit of a resume to fall back on."

Roberts' best finish at the Texas Open is a tie for third in 1995. He missed the cut at this event last year.

Lickliter and Willis each enjoyed stints atop the leaderboard, but errors by both players late in the round gave way to Roberts. Lickliter stood at 14- under through 14 holes, but found trouble with a double-bogey at the par-three 17th.

Willis was also at 14-under after back-to-back birdies from the 15th pushed him into the lead. However, the 28-year-old bogeyed the last two holes to fall one back.

"Today doesn't have any relevance," said Willis. "Yesterday doesn't have any relevance on today, other than the fact I've put myself in contention."

Pat Perez, who shared the lead with Roberts after the second round, managed a one-under 69 to join Andrew Magee in a tie for sixth at 11-under-par 199.

Fred Couples collected six birdies and one bogey for a round of 65. The 1992 Masters champion finished at 10-under-par 200 alongside Fred Funk and Brian Gay.

Bob Estes shot a four-under 66 to finish four shots off the pace at nine- under-par 201. Estes, who earned his first PGA Tour win at this event in 1994, was joined by Phil Tataurangi, Joel Edwards, Jeff Gove, John Huston and Robert Gamez in a tie for 11th.

Kenneth Staton, J.L. Lewis, Tripp Isenhour, Notah Begay III, Shaun Micheel, Mark Brooks, Jeff Brehaut and Grant Waite are knotted at eight-under-par 202.

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