Notah Begay III, a PGA Tour rookie bidding for his first tournament victory, shot a course-record, 9-under-par 63 today for a five-stroke lead in the inaugural $2.75 million Reno-Tahoe Open.

Begay, a former teammate of Tiger Woods at Stanford, began the day four strokes out of the lead. He surged to the front by making 10 birdies, bringing his three-day score at the 7,552-yard Montreux Golf and Country Club course to 14-under 202.

"I just rode the wave today basically," Begay said. "But today is an aberration. Today is not normal.

"It's weird because the putts just go in. You beat your head against the wall for three weeks and then before you know it, you're 8-under. At that point, I was just trying to finish out a good round and that's hard to do."

Begay kept an eye on Woods, who shot an eye-popping 62 and maintained a five-stroke lead in the NEC Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

"I understand Tiger had a great round and I hope he wins it," Begay said. "It'd be great if a Stanford duo won both PGA tour events this weekend."

Tom Scherrer was four strokes back of Begay after a 3-under 69 Saturday, and Craig Stadler and Brant Jobe were tied five strokes behind the leader.

Like Begay, Jobe, who had an eagle-2 on the par-4 eighth hole, and Scherrer are seeking their first PGA victories.

Second-round leader Ben Bates shot a 3-over 75 and dropped back into a seven-way tie at 210.

Stadler, seeking his first tournament victory since 1996, was among three golfers shooting 65s, matching the previous course record and dropping his overall score to 9-under 207. Dave Stockton Jr. and Jay Delsing also shot 65 and were in a four-way tie at 209.

"I was driving the ball well, hitting my irons a lot better and hitting some good putts," Stadler said.

Stadler said after blustery conditions the previous two days, calm, warm weather Saturday set up ideal playing conditions. Players also are becoming familiar with the course.

"The wind died down a bit and the greens are softer. They're a little more receptive," he said. "Some of the pins are more receptive and players have had a couple days to figure it out."

Begay, the first full-blooded American Indian to play on the PGA tour, said he just needs to play solid golf to nail down his first victory. But he also said that's easier said than done, especially with a veteran tour player such as Stadler still in striking distance.

"I'd rather have a 10-stroke lead," he said. "The players are so good that anyone within six or seven strokes has a chance. And the veterans are going to make the right decisions. Their nerves won't be a factor, whereas mine will. He's won a major. I'm trying for my first tour win. When it's all said and done, I hope I come out on top. I just have to focus on what I have to do."

Begay had only one glitch, when he had a bogey on the par-4 12th hole, missing a 3-foot par putt. He came back to birdie the 14th, making a 4-foot putt and moving into the lead.

Even a seemingly wayward shot turned out right for Begay on Saturday. On the par-5 17th, his second shot hit a mound to the left of the green, bounced through some fans and dribbled down an incline to the edge of the green.

From there, he two-putted for his ninth birdie of the day, then sank a 12-footer on the final hole for his 10th to lower the course record by two strokes.

"I love course records," said Begay, who shot a 59 on the NIKE Tour last year and a 62 in the second round of the 1994 NCAA tournament. "If you can break a course record on tour you're going to make up some ground on the field. It's an honor to have it. I hope it stands for a while."

AP