Lyle Shoots 68, Leads Greensboro by 3 Strokes; Sluman Has 73

It was a supremely confident Sandy Lyle who assessed his position--three shots in front of the pack going into today’s final round of the $1-million Greater Greensboro Open golf tournament.

“I’ve been in this position before and I don’t usually let them get away,” said the globe-trotting veteran from Scotland who has scored victories on three continents.

“It all depends on the start (of the final round); if I get off to a good start--and the second hole is a par-5 I can reach--I’ll be hard to catch,” Lyle said Saturday after he’d surged past struggling Jeff Sluman and put himself in position to write a little golfing history.

A victory by Lyle today would make him the first Scot ever to lead the American money-winning list.

Lyle, who won this title in 1986, came from two shots off the pace with a four-under-par 68 and tied the tournament scoring record for 54 holes at 17-under-par 199.

Sluman, who led through the first two rounds, slipped to a 73. He takes a 202 total into today’s final round of the chase for a $180,000 first prize.

“I didn’t play bad. It was just a day when the putts lipped out and the drives trickled into the rough in funny places,” said the slender Sluman, who has yet to win in five seasons on the PGA Tour.

Ken Green moved into third place at 204 after a 69. Scott Hoch was next at 206 after a 72, and Gil Morgan and Donnie Hammond were at 207. Morgan, who hasn’t finished lower than eighth this season, shot a 71, while Hammond had a 73.