Jay Williamson edges ahead - Travelers Championship 2007

Williamson, who entered Saturday tied for the lead with David Toms at 8-under, is at 11-under 199. He holds a one-shot lead over Hunter Mahan, who is alone in second place after signing for a 67.

"Uncharted territory, certainly, but I'm driving the ball well," Williamson said. "My irons have been good. I'm thinking well, I'm not getting too excited. I didn't feel great on the first couple of holes (Saturday), but that's to be expected, making a birdie or two really helped. We'll just do it again (Sunday)."

Williamson, who attended Trinity College in nearby Hartford and is playing here on a sponsor's exemption, started with birdies at the second and third before falling back to the pack with bogeys on his next two holes.

A member of the Nationwide Tour, Williamson regained the lead with a birdie at No. 7. He added birdies at the 13th and 15th holes.

"I tell you, the Nationwide Tour has done something to me," Williamson said. "I can't really explain it, but it's doing exactly what they want it to do for me, they being, you know - they being those that didn't want me back here.

"I'm not bitter about that. I didn't do what I needed to do. I wasn't good enough. The Nationwide Tour has made me better."

Mahan, who shot a sizzling 62 in Thursday's opening round, carded four bogeys and a birdie and will be in the final grouping with Williamson on Sunday.

"You have to be excited. You can't run away from it," Mahan said. "You have to be excited. You have a chance to win, that's where you want to be starting Thursday. I'm super excited. I just have to go there and control my emotions and not let the situation control me. Just play golf and play shots the best I can."

Toms, who finished tied for fifth at the U.S. Open last week, surged into the lead after three consecutive birdies at Nos. 12-14. But he stumbled with back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th and shot a 69. He has sole possession of third place at 201.

"I'd like to be more consistent, it's better for your health," Toms said. "I was all over the place early on. I didn't putt well. I three-putted the first hole. I got the putter working pretty good and then hit a couple of bad shots toward the end of the round that cost me a couple of bogeys. Overall it was a good day."

Fred Funk shook off a sloppy start and shot a 67 to climb into fourth place, three shots off the lead. The 51-year-old Funk bogeyed three over the first six holes but rallied with five birdies, including three in a row at Nos. 13-15 to move to 8-under 202.

Nick O'Hern and Pat Perez are tied at 7-under 203 after each signed for a round of 4-under 66.

Defending champion J.J. Henry shot a 69 and is at even-par 210.

First prize is $1.008 million.