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Saturday, November 4

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Leonard Thompson fired his second straight 6-under-par 66 and grabbed a one-shot lead over John Jacobs after Saturday's third round of the Senior Tour Championship.

	A birdie on 18 game Thompson a one-stroke lead.

After finishing Friday with two eagles over the last five holes, Thompson -- whose only win this season came in the State Farm Classic in July -- stayed hot. He began the day two strokes behind second-round leader Jose Maria Canizares, who struggled. He has a 54-hole total of 14-under 202.

Thompson also overtook Jacobs, who shot a 4-under 68 and stayed in second at 203, one shot better than Tom Watson, who fired his second straight 67.

Hubert Green kept pace with Jacobs as the only players to shoot three rounds in the 60s. His second consecutive 68 has him in fourth at 11-under 205, one shot better than Canizares and Ray Floyd.

Winless on the Senior PGA Tour, Canizares stumbled a bit with a par 72 but still is in the hunt. Floyd fired a 66, matching Thompson and Tom Wargo for the best round of the day.

Larry Nelson carded a 69 and is at 4-under 212, 10 strokes off the pace. Although he has almost no chance of winning this prestigious event, he is strong position to win the tour's top two prizes, the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Arnold Palmer Award.

The Nicklaus Award goes to the player of the year, which will be determined by a vote of Senior Tour participants. The Palmer Award goes to the leading money winner, with Nelson holding a lead of more than $300,000 over Bruce Fleisher.

Fleisher carded a 69 -- his first round in the 60s -- and is at 2-under 214.

The 72-hole tournament, which carries a purse of $2.1 million, is being played at TPC of Myrtle Beach.

Last year's tournament was played at the Dunes Club due to a hurricane at Myrtle Beach.