Sat May 3 21:05:36 2008

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Price extends lead to two strokes

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Austin, TX (Sports Network) - Nick Price shot a five-under 67 on Saturday and extended his lead to two strokes heading into the final round the FedEx Kinko's Classic.

The 51-year-old South African was at 12-under 132 at The Hills Country Club -- a tournament scoring record for 36 holes -- and will be seeking his first Champions Tour win on Sunday.

Loren Roberts and Scott Simpson shot matching 66s to share second place at 10- under 134, with Tim Simpson (69) and Denis Watson (70) three strokes further back at seven-under 137.

No one else was within five shots of Price, the three-time major champion and an 18-time PGA Tour winner.

Price began the day with a one-shot lead and played steadily, picking up birdies at the second, fifth and sixth holes to protect his position.

But players were bunching up behind him, and Simpson and Watson grabbed a share of the lead with early birdies on the back nine.

Price battled back, making his first birdie in seven holes at the 13th, where he rolled in an 18-foot putt to move ahead by one shot.

He bogeyed the 15th, falling into a four-way tie for the lead, but re-gained his one-shot advantage with a birdie at the 16th.

Price then extended his lead to two strokes with a closing birdie at the par- five 18th, knocking his third shot from the rough to just five feet and rolling in the putt.

Carrying a lead heading into the final round of a Champions Tour event for the first time, Price will be looking to carry over the success he had in the same position on the PGA Tour.

Price, who won the 1994 British Open and the '92 and '94 PGA Championships, was 9-6 on the PGA Tour when he held the overnight lead heading into the final round

He has some other history on his side, too, having claimed four titles in Texas while playing on the PGA Tour.

Defending champion Scott Hoch, looking to become the first repeat winner at this tournament, had a 71 on Saturday and was tied for sixth place with Fred Funk (71) and Bob Gilder (70) at six-under 138.

Mark Wiebe (69), 2005 champion Jim Thorpe (70), John Cook (72) and D.A. Weibring (73) were at four-under 140.