Furyk edges one stroke clear at Quail Hollow

ATLANTA, May 7 (Reuters) Jim Furyk put himself in position to win his 11th PGA Tour title after edging one shot clear in the Wachovia Championship third round in Charlotte, North Carolina.

American Furyk, three off the pace when the weather-delayed second round was completed earlier in the day at Quail Hollow Club, fired a four-under-par 68 to finish at 11-under 205.

Taking advantage of receptive greens softened by overnight rain, the 2003 US Open champion collected five birdies and a bogey in an impressive display of shot-making.

A superb seven-iron approach to within two feet of the flag at the par-four 16th set up his final birdie of the day, and the outright lead for the first time.

''I'm happy to be out front at this point,'' Furyk told reporters. ''I've got another round of golf tomorrow and I need to go out there and attack, try to post one more good round.

''It's another tournament where I like the golf course,'' added the 35-year-old, who was edged out last year by Vijay Singh at the fourth extra hole in a three-way playoff for the title.

''I think it's very difficult, very demanding. It tests all aspects of your game.'' World number three Retief Goosen birdied seven of the last nine holes for a 65 to share second place with fellow South African Trevor Immelman, who rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at the last for a 66.

RED-HOT FINISH ''Today everybody was making some birdies out there,'' Goosen said after sparking his red-hot finish with a chip-in for birdie at the par-four 11th. ''The fairways were a lot easier to hit and the greens were holding.

''On the back nine, it suddenly all came at once for me. It's nice when you know you're hitting the ball pretty good. And I do like the course. It sets well for my eye.'' American journeyman Bo Van Pelt, tournament leader at the halfway point, was a further stroke back in fourth after grinding out a 73.

Compatriot Shaun Micheel, the 2003 US PGA champion, shot a 68 to secure fifth spot at eight under, one ahead of fellow American Lucas Glover (67) and Australia's Adam Scott (66), Scott, fuelled by a pair of eagles, briefly rocketed into a tie for the lead at nine under before slipping back over the difficult closing stretch.

Nine strokes off the pace at the start of the round, he covered the five holes from the par-five seventh in seven under par.

''It's just what I needed to get myself in the mix,'' said Scott, who is chasing his first PGA Tour victory since the 2004 Booz Allen Classic. ''I was a long way back, so overall I'm pretty happy.'' Singh, who won last year's title in a three-way playoff with Furyk and Sergio Garcia, finished in a tie for eighth at six under after returning a 71.

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson, hunting his third title of the season, ended the day 11 strokes off the lead after battling to a 73.

''I just didn't play well,'' the American left-hander said after parring the last 12 holes.

''I'm just playing poorly, and I think I might just need a little break and try to get refreshed before the US Open (next month).'' Reuters PDS GC1015