By Associated Press
Saturday, June 10

HARRISON, N.Y. -- Duffy Waldorf is picking up where he left off last year in the Buick Classic.

	Waldorf, who made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 5, sits at 7-under.

The defending champion shot a 3-under-par 68 in hot and windy weather Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Ernie Els and four others after the third round.

"I feel I'm just part of the pack with that many guys so close," said Waldorf, who beat Dennis Paulson in a playoff last year. "I can't go in thinking I have a lead to protect. I imagine it will quite a shootout."

Waldorf, coming off a 72 on Friday in the difficult afternoon conditions, had a bogey-free round for a 7-under 206 total on the demanding Westchester Country Club course.

"I think 68 was a great score," Waldorf said. "I played solid, and didn't get into too much trouble. It was a tough day to play."

He made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 5, reached 6 under with a 4-foot putt on No. 9, and two-putted from 20 feet for birdie on No. 10 after driving the green on the 314-yard hole.

Mickelson and Els also shot 68s, and Duval had a 70 to join John Cook (68), Chris Perry (68), Joey Sindelar (71) and Skip Kendall (72) at 205.

Mickelson, seeking his fourth victory of the year, holed an 88-yard lob wedge shot for eagle on the par-4 17th to counter a double-bogey 5 on the 16th.

"That was a nice way to end the round," Mickelson said. "With so many guys clumped up on the leaderboard, it was nice to make up that ground."

Els, the 1996 and 1997 Buick Classic winner, had five birdies and two bogeys.

"I played myself back into the tournament," the two-time U.S. Open champion said. "I told my caddie, `I'm glad the wind picked up. This will let us catch up with the leaders."'

Duval is trying to end a 14-month victory drought.

"I hung in there in difficult conditions and made up three strokes on the lead," he said. "I like it when it gets tough. It demands more precision and discipline."

Paulson, the leader after the first two rounds, shot a 75 to fall three strokes behind Waldorf. He had a two-stroke lead after nine holes, but dropped five strokes over six holes with three bogeys and a double-bogey.

Sergio Garcia, the 20-year-old Spanish star who made the cut by a stroke, had the best round of the day, a 65 that gave left him four strokes back at 209. Garcia, who started on No. 10, had five birdies in a six-hole stretch beginning with No. 18.

Divots
Shigeki Maruyama, the Japanese player who shot a 58 on Monday during U.S. Open qualifying in Rockville, Md., had a 67 for a 210 total. ... Greg Norman was five strokes back after a 68. ... Bobby Cochran eagled the par-5 ninth and 18th holes in his round of 69 for a 212 total.