PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- John Huston fired an 11-under-par 61 Saturday and moved into a tie with Tim Herron atop a crowded leaderboard after the third round of the Buick Challenge.
On an ideal day for scoring at Callaway Garden Resort, Huston came within one shot of tying Steve Lowery's five-year-old record. The 41-year-old Florida native matched the best round of his career, which he carded in the second round of the 1996 Memorial.
Huston is looking for his seventh career victory and first since the 2000 Tampa Bay Classic. His best finish this year was a tie for third in the Bay Hill Invitational, but he already is well over $1 million in earnings for the fourth time in the last five years.
Herron carded a 7-under 65 and was one of 19 golfers with three rounds in the 60s. He began the day tied with Australia's Craig Parry and ended it tied with Huston.
Parry shot a 66 and was tied for third at 19-under 197 with 2001 PGA Championship winner David Toms, who fired a 63.
Jonathan Byrd (68) and Chris Smith (63) were next at 198, followed by Stewart Cink, who shot a 65.
Robert Allenby also shot a 63 and was at 201 with Ben Crane (66) and J.L. Lewis (67).
An indication of how easy the course was playing was the fact that Phil Mickelson, who began the day one stroke behind, carded a 2-under 70 and found himself six shots off the pace.
Tee times were moved up and the players went off both the first and 10th tees in an attempt to get the round in before the arrival of forecasted bad weather.
