Smith leads Buick Classic

Seeking his first win in 148 PGA Tour starts, Chris Smith played 30 holes in five under par and has a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Buick Classic.

After rain hammered the course on Thursday night and Friday morning, Smith was one of 78 players forced to return to Westchester Country Club early yesterday.

He finished off a two-under 69 before shooting a 67.

‘‘It has been a long day,’’ said Smith, who is a stroke ahead of second-round leader Loren Roberts and David Gossett.

Smith will not play in next week’s US Open after failing to qualify on Monday.

‘‘Obviously, the US Open is a tournament that you want to play every year, if you can, and I’ll miss it,’’ he said.

‘‘But I assume that on Thursday evening when I’m playing golf with my two kids, I won’t be missing it too bad.’’

Smith began the week having missed the cut in six of his last nine starts.

He began to turn around his game last week at the Kemper Open, tying for seventh by closing with rounds of 68 and 67.

‘‘I think that I’ve finally started putting better,’’ he said. ‘‘I got into a rotation of tournaments that I enjoy, and I got into a set of courses that I feel are good for me.’’

Smith is one good round from a breakthrough victory. The 33-year-old won five times on the Buy.com Tour before joining the PGA Tour.

‘‘It’s something that I’ve worked for for a long time, and it would be great,’’ he said. ‘‘On the other hand, if I don’t win, I’m still going to be happy when I get home.’’