Thatcher takes narrow advantage

Roland Thatcher closed with three straight birdies for a 4-under-par 68 Saturday and a one-stroke lead over fellow rookie Vaughn Taylor after three rounds of the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Thatcher, who had four three-putt bogeys, fell three strokes behind Taylor with four holes remaining at Montreux Golf and Country Club. He rallied with a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th and a 6-footer at the par-5 17th. He hit a wedge from 84 yards to within a foot at the 18th and tapped in for a 14-under 202 total.

Taylor got up and down from a greenside bunker for a birdie at No. 17 to get to 14 under, but missed a 2-foot putt for par on the last hole, settling for a 69 and 13-under 203 total.

Australian Steve Allan, who came within 2-feet of a double eagle on the 636-yard 17th and tapped in for eagle, and Hunter Mahan, who holed out for an eagle 2 from 76 yards on the 18th, were two strokes off the lead after 68s.

Bill Haas, son of PGA tour veteran and Ryder Cup member Jay Haas, chipped in for eagle from 40 yards on the 17th. He shot a 67 and was at 10 under.

Hometown favorite Scott McCarron, who shot a 71, and Mark Wilson, who had a 69, were at 9-under 207.

Corey Pavin, who took the lead after the rain-delayed second round was completed early Saturday, shot a 4-over 76 and was tied for 10th.

Pavin shot his best round of the season in the second round, a 7-under-par 65 that gave him a one-stroke lead. The 1995 U.S. Open champion hasn't won on the PGA tour in more than eight years. He was in the half of the field that had to complete rounds Saturday morning before starting third-round play.

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