PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., March 15 (UPI) -- Davis Love III gained a one-stroke lead over Justin Leonard at the Honda Classic Saturday, overcoming a rain delay to card a bogey-free, 7-under-par 65.
Love began the day a stroke behind co-leaders Notah Begay III and David Peoples, but he followed seven straight pars with a birdie and eagle to close the front nine and added four birdies on the back side.
Seventh in the world rankings, Love is seeking his second win of the season after going two years without a title. His three-round total of 20-under 196 is a tournament record.
Leonard briefly took the lead after finishing a round of 64 with six straight birdies. The final four came after a brief rain delay and gave him a one-stroke lead over Chris Riley for second place at 19-under 197.
Riley shot a 65.
Woody Austin was among six players tied for fourth at 17-under 199. Starting on the 10th tee, he matched a course record with a 63, playing the final 13 holes in 9-under.
The final round should be a shootout at the damp Country Club at Mirasol, with 20 players within five strokes of Love.
Begay shot a 69 and was three shots off the pace. Peoples was the only player in the top 21 to shoot in the 70s, carding a 71 that left him five strokes back.
