GOLF ROUNDUP : Gamez (66) Ties Nelson at Southern Open

Robert Gamez made the putts, and Larry Nelson made every shot except those on the green and that is why they are tied for the lead at the Southern Open.

Gamez shot a six-under-par 66 Saturday to share the lead with Nelson after three rounds at Pine Mountain, Ga.

Nelson, 44, had the lead until bogeying the par-four 18th hole to finish with a 70 and a three-round total of nine-under 207 over the par-72, 7,057-yard Mountain View course at Callaway Gardens resort.

“I hit the ball probably as well as I ever have over three rounds,” said Nelson, who has reduced his tournament schedule, playing in just 14 events this year. “But I’m surprised to be where I am after putting so poorly.”

Gamez’s 66 was the best round of the tournament and included an eagle on the par-five seventh hole, where he chipped in from 80 feet.

“I played good again, just like yesterday (when he had a 70),” Gamez said, “but today I made some putts.”

Gamez rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt and four others, none longer than five feet. He was five under on the four par-five holes--three birdies and the eagle.

“Normally that’s my downfall,” he said. “Today it was the key.”

A stroke back at 208 was Dave Sutherland, who had a 70.

Second-round leader Brandt Jobe had five bogeys and two birdies for a 75 and was at 210.

Nelson was two shots behind Jobe when play began Saturday. But he took the lead with birdies on his first two holes while Jobe had a bogey on No. 2.

Nelson, who has competed in only three events since finishing third in the U.S. Open in June, had four birdies on the front nine. His only two bogeys came on the back side.

Gibby Gilbert, a non-winner since joining the Senior Tour this year, shot a four-under-par 68 and tied Chi Chi Rodriguez for the lead after two rounds of the Bank One Senior Classic at Lexington, Ky.

Rodriguez, the first-round leader, shot a 70 for a 137 total.

George Archer made the biggest run of the day, with a 67 on the par-72, 6,744-yard Kearny Hill Golf Links. He was one stroke behind the leaders.

J.C. Snead shot a 71 and is in fourth place at 139.

Miller Barber, who started the day one back of Rodriguez, stayed close on the front side with birdies on No. 6 and No. 8. But double bogeys at the 13th, where he went into the woods, and the 18th, where he wound up in a waste area, forced Barber to finish with a 73.

Barber still won $11,000 for the Super Seniors for golfers 60-and-over with a three-under 141.