LAS VEGAS, N.J., Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Australian Craig Parry made a double eagle during a round of 6-under 66 Friday that put him one shot in front after 54 holes of the five-round Invensys Classic.
High winds swept the area Friday, making the three courses used for this tournament much more difficult than they had been during the first two rounds.
Parry said the winds reminded him of the British Open, which he came close to winning two years ago. Parry, winless in parts of 12 seasons on the PGA Tour, had a 54-hole total of 19-under 196.
"I have been playing really well," Parry said. "I've had a lot of good breaks this week. I've been putting well, too."
Tom Lehman followed the lowest 36-hole total on the tour this season with a wind-blown 1-over 72 at the TPC at The Canyons and was alone in second at 18-under 197.
"Par or better today was a pretty good score," he said. "Today was not a good day to play The Canyons."
Several others were in the mix at the birdie-happy tournament, including veteran Fred Couples, who was tied for fourth at 199.
Like Lehman, Couples is a former Player of the Year on the downside of his career. And like Parry, he is in the midst of an extended title drought, going winless since 1998.
John Daly bogeyed four holes in a row on the back nine after moving within one shot of the lead and was tied for eighth at 201.
Bob Estes was tied for third at 198 with Scott McCarron, both of whom are are winners on the tour this season. Steve Flesch was tied with Couples at 199. Bob May and Andrew Magee were another shot back while Chris DiMarco was tied with Daly at 201.
Parry recorded the double-eagle at the 492-yard, par-5 third hole. Using a 6-iron from 187 yards, he watched as the ball hit 12 feet short of the hole before going in the cup.
The shot got Parry within two strokes of Lehman, who had not yet teed off.
"I had two double-eagles before," said the 35-year-old Parry, who matched his career-best round with Wednesday's 64. "One as a school boy and the other in the Indian Open pro-am."
