Tewell & Morgan share lead into final round

Doug Tewell's day started with a serenade of ``Happy Birthday'' on the first tee at the Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club.

It ended with a share of the lead going into the final round of The Tradition.

Tewell shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday -- his 56th birthday -- for a 13-under 203 after three rounds of the Champions Tour's final major of the season. Gil Morgan birdied the 18th hole to cap a 70 that gave him a share of the lead.

Tom Jenkins, a playoff winner in the Allianz Championship in June, was a shot behind the leaders with a third-round 69 on Saturday, and Dana Quigley was two shots back after a 66.

Tewell's grandson called him before his round with a birthday wish that included ``Make some birdies today,'' Tewell said.

He did, making six under cloudless skies at the course just west of Portland.

Tewell has eight victories since joining the Champions Tour in 1999, including a victory in The Tradition in 2001 when it was played at Desert Mountain. But he hasn't won so far this season, which was marred by surgery on his left elbow.

Tewell joked that Sunday was going to be his birthday, too.

``I'm going to have two birthdays this month,'' he said.

Morgan, who had a two-stroke lead at 11 under after the second round, played at par until he birdied No. 16. He wrapped up with another birdie on the final hole.

``I think the only negative today -- except that I didn't make all the birdies I wanted -- is that I let the field get closer,'' Morgan said.

Morgan has won at least one tournament a year since he joined the Champions Tour in 1996. This year, however, he is winless.

Morgan is a two-time champion in this event, winning in 1997 and '98 when it was played at Desert Mountain in Arizona. He has 23 victories on the Champions Tour after winning seven times on the PGA Tour.

He lost to Quigley in June in the rain-shortened Bayer Advantage Classic.

Tewell and Morgan live two blocks from each other in Edmond, Okla.

``Doug was saying, and I have to agree, we never play together at home hardly,'' he said. ``Then to come all the way out here and play together ... it will be fun.''

Quigley leads the tour money list this season.

``I don't care if it's a major or a minor,'' Quigley said. ``They're all majors to me.''

Jenkins was the only player in the field of 78 to have three straight rounds in the 60s. He bogeyed the par-5 16th and couldn't catch up with the leaders.

In the final round of last year's tournament, Craig Stadler closed with four straight birdies for a one-shot victory and his second win in a major on the Champions Tour. Stadler wrapped up the third round at 4 under after a 72 Saturday.

The Tradition was played 14 years in Arizona before Oregon native Peter Jacobsen lobbied to relocate it in 2003. Jacobsen's sports management firm runs the tournament sponsored by Oregon window and door maker Jeld-Wen.

Jacobsen was 2 over after a 76.

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