Villegas nudges ahead
Camilo Villegas picked up a birdie to establish a one-stroke lead over Jim Furyk when the third round was completed at the BMW Championship today.
Villegas, who had five holes left when competition was halted in fading light last night, was among 23 players who had to resume at 7.30am local time on a damp, gloomy morning at Bellerive.
The Colombian gathered three successive pars before making a 10-foot birdie at the par-five eighth, his 17th hole.
A gallery of close to 1,000 people watched Villegas, dressed in all white, make a tap-in par at his final hole for a four-under-par 66.
He posted a 13-under 197 total, with American Furyk, who completed the round yesterday, alone in second place on 12-under.
Villegas did not speak to the media after the round, quickly signing a few autographs as he moved swiftly to the clubhouse for a late breakfast.
The two frontrunners had a handy lead over their nearest pursuers, with Americans Anthony Kim and Brian Gay and South African Tim Clark further back - tied for third at nine-under.
One player who did not have a happy morning was Phil Mickelson, who stumbled with a three-putt bogey at his penultimate hole, shooting 71 to fall seven strokes off the pace.
Villegas, 26, in his third season on the PGA Tour, is seeking his maiden victory.
And while he will take the lead into the final round later today, Furyk should have the advantage of being fresher, because he was able to sleep in.
Furyk also is far more experienced, with 13 career victories, including the 2003 US Open.
The European contingent appeared to be out of contention, with Sergio Garcia best placed, eight strokes off the pace.
