Verplank remains in charge at HP Classic of New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- Scott Verplank is not just leading the HP Classic of New Orleans -- he is dominating it. He fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday and will take a comfortable three-stroke lead into the final round.

Verplank's 195 total put him at 21 under through 54 holes -- nearly matching the course record for 72 holes -- as English Turn remained defenseless with little wind, fast fairways and greens with some give to them.

Bob Estes shot his third 66 of the tournament and was in second at 18 under. He made a late push with birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16.

Brian Gay had a double-bogey on 18 that cost him second place and dropped him into a tie for third with Kirk Triplett at 17 under.

The marquee names in the tournament were all well off the pace, including money leader Davis Love III, who had two double-bogeys and will enter the final round eight strokes back.

The 7,116-yard Jack Nicklaus-designed course is playing short, allowing players such as Verplank, Gay, Estes, and Triplett, who are among the shortest hitters on the PGA TOUR, to turn the par 5s into prime birdie opportunities. Gay is ranked 138th in driving distance, tops among that foursome.

Since the tournament moved to English Turn in 1989, the course has never been more giving. Previously, only two players had played four rounds at 20-under par or better. David Toms was 22 under when he won here two years ago and Phil Mickelson was 20 under as runner-up to Toms.

Verplank reached 20 under with a birdie on the eighth hole, and he didn't miss getting to 21 under on that hole by much.

He hit a 6-iron straight at the stick on the par-3, 176-yard eighth that landed just in front of the hole and took a soft hoop past it before settling 5 feet away.

A nice chip from the rough in front of the 11th green led to another birdie for Verplank.

Gay, who was playing with the leader, also had a long chip to set up a birdie on the par-5 11th.

The playing partners then both birdied No. 12.

Verplank picked up his first bogey in 48 holes on the 16th, missing a 4-footer by 6 inches. Meanwhile, Gay birdied the hole to move within two strokes of the leader for the first time since early in the round.

But Gay self-destructed on the 471-yard, par-4 18th, finding two bunkers in front of the green then two-putting.

Verplank, a four-time winner in his 17-year career, is looking for his first victory since 2001.

Stuart Appleby matched Verplank's low round of the tournament with a 9-under 63 early in the day, but that only got him a tie for ninth place at 14 under. With nothing to suggest scores will be going up drastically on Sunday, Appleby knows he'll practically have to match his sterling third round just to get into the top 10.

"Usually, 10 under on the weekend you'd be getting in the top 10 easy," he said.

Not this weekend.

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