Woody Austin takes narrow advantage

Woody Austin took the third-round lead in the Texas Open on Saturday, shooting a 3-under 67 in 100-degree heat and wind gusting to 30 mph as the edge of Hurricane Rita roared by about 150 miles to the east.

The 41-year-old Austin made a 4-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish at 13-under 197 on the LaCantera Golf Club's Resort Course. Robert Gamez (68), Mark Wilson (66) and Dean Wilson (70) were tied for second.

Austin began the round two strokes behind Dean Wilson and was as far back as five shots on the back nine. The two-time PGA Tour winner rallied with an eagle on the 536-yard, par-5 14th -- hitting his 203-yard approach to 2 feet.

``I got a good bounce -- it hit the side of a tree and came out to the corner of the fairway,'' Austin said. ``I hit a perfect 6-iron that almost went in. Those are the eagle putts you think you can make.''

Austin two-putted from 80 feet on No. 16 for another birdie after driving the green on the 348-yard hole, and took the first 54-hole lead of his career with the birdie putt on the 18th.

``Finally,'' Austin said. ``I played in one final group. It was this year at Hartford. I haven't made many of those.''

Gamez, whose father is from San Antonio, won two PGA Tour events as a rookie in 1990, but is winless in his last 394 events.

Houston-area resident Jeff Maggert (70) was two strokes back along with J.J. Henry (66), Bob Heintz (69) and John Senden (70). Steve Lowery (66), Alex Cejka (68) and Olin Browne (71) were 9 under, and Paul Claxton (66) followed at 8 under.

Mark Wilson, 181st on the PGA Tour money list, had a two-stroke lead late in the round, but bogeyed the final two holes after playing 28 straight holes without a bogey. He three-putted from about 60 feet on No. 17 and missed an 11-footer for par on No. 18.

David Duval, the former top-ranked player who made his first cut this year, shot an even-par 70 to finish 10 strokes behind Austin at 3 under. Duval had missed 18 straight cuts.

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