Slocum hits the front in Georgia

Heath Slocum fired a third straight 66 to establish a one-shot lead at the McGladrey Classic at Sea Island, Georgia.

The American moved onto 12-under-par with one round to go to lie ahead of fellow countrymen Troy Merritt and Joe Durant.

Slocum carded five birdies and before picking up a bogey on the par-four 16th hole.

He admitted his approach has not changed even though the field for the tournament is not as strong as some.

"It's still a golf tournament," Slocum said on www.pgatour.com. "I've always tried to play in my head like a golf tournament is a golf tournament, no matter if it's a major, a Playoff event or Fall Series event.

"It still means the same to me. Still ultimately what I'm trying to do is win a tournament."

He added: "I made some putts, and that I would say is the formula to get around this place; you're going to hit fairways, get away with a few of your misses and make a few putts.

"Every shot from this point on was going to be huge, every shot you save, every putt you make."

Merritt opened with three straight birdies and shot three more on his way to a 64, while Durant went round in 68, with four straight birdies from the seventh to the 10th and two bogeys.

David Toms, the leader after the second round, shot a level-par 70 to lie on 10-under, two shots off the pace. He had been on course to join Slocum at the top of the leaderboard but bogeys at the 14th and 15th saw him slip back.

Four players - Bill Haas, Aron Price, Brian Stuard and John Senden - followed on nine under.

Haas carded a 65 and Price a 66, while Stuard and Senden both went round in 67.