George McNeill moves five shots clear

PGA Tour rookie George McNeill took control of the Las Vegas Open on Saturday, moving five shots clear by firing a five-under-par 67 in the third round.

Joint pacesetter overnight with fellow Americans Garrett Willis and D.J. Trahan, McNeill birdied four of the last eight holes at a blustery TPC Summerlin to finish at 18-under 197.

The 32-year-old from Florida, who worked as an assistant club professional last year at Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, claimed the outright lead for the first time with a tap-in birdie putt from three feet at the par-five ninth.

He picked up further shots at the 11th, 13th and 16th before stretching five ahead after hitting an exquisite approach from the right rough to within three feet of the flag at the last.

His five-stroke lead after 54 holes matches the largest on the PGA Tour this season, emulating American left-hander Steve Flesch at the Reno-Tahoe Open in August.

"Getting the speed of the greens early was hard because the wind was blowing and it was kind of tough to get the speed on the first few holes," McNeill told reporters after the toughest day of the tournament in the Nevada desert.

"After four or five holes, I felt like I had the speed fine. I was still hitting it pretty decent and kind of moved on from there."

Bidding to become the 11th first-time winner on the 2007 PGA Tour, McNeill shrugged off bogeys at the second and fifth to reach the turn in one-under 35.

He rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the par-four 11th to forge three ahead before tightening his grip over the closing holes.

The leading player at the 2006 PGA Tour qualifying tournament after making eight previous unsuccessful visits, McNeill feels he now belongs on the world's biggest circuit.

"Tour school is supposedly the most pressure-packed tournament all year," he said. "I felt like I handled that pretty well. If can just continue that I think I'll be all right."

American Robert Garrigus, a Tour rookie last year, returned a 68 to climb into a tie for second at 13 under with Trahan (72).

Willis, bidding for his second PGA Tour title, briefly held the outright lead at 14 under after rolling in a 15-foot birdie putt at the seventh but stalled on the back nine before carding a 73.

That left him in a share of fourth spot at 12 under with compatriots Kent Jones (68), Bo van Pelt (68) and John Huston (72).

Among the big names, 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir carded a 69 to lie eight strokes off the pace while big-hitting John Daly plummeted into a tie for 68th at one under after returning a 77.