Watney Up by One at Wyndham Championship


Nick Watney fired a bogey-free 5-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the Wyndham Championship. The $5.3 million PGA Tour event got underway Thursday at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C.

Watney, a 33-year-old from Sacramento with five Tour wins - his most recent coming in August 2012 at The Barclays, opened with rounds of 67 and 64. On Saturday, he posted five birdies to reach 14-under 196, a stroke ahead of Canada's Brad Fritsch, who also had a 65.

Watney, one of pro golf's up-and-coming players with three victories between 2011 and '12, said during a brief greenside TV interview Saturday that he's adjusted his mental approach in an effort to get back into the winner's circle.

"Change in attitude . . . my hard work is paying off," he said. "Happy with the direction I'm going in."

Fritsch, a 36-year-old from Edmonton in search of his first Tour title, recorded three birdies and an eagle on the par-4 eighth. One of Fritsch's birdies came on the par-4 14th when he sank a 56-putt putt.

Two strokes behind Watney are Sweden's Freddie Jacobson (66) and 36-hole co-leader Heath Slocum (68), while three behind are Americans Brandt Snedeker (66), Webb Simpson (66) and the other halfway leader, Scott Langley, who shot a 1-under 70 Saturday.

Argentina's Andres Romero (64), Colombia's Camilo Villegas (68), Scotland's Martin Laird (69) and Americans Bill Haas (66), Kevin Kisner (67) and Bo Van Pelt (68) share eighth at 10-under 200.

Defending champion Patrick Reed posted his second straight 67 and is now tied for 42-under at 5-under 205.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.