Love poised to end victory drought in Greensboro

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) Former champion Davis Love III moved ominously into contention for his first PGA Tour title in three years at the Greensboro Classic in North Carolina.

The American fired a four-under-par 68 on a wet, cold and blustery day at Forest Oaks Country Club to end the third round tied for the lead with compatriot Chris Couch (69).

Love, whose last PGA Tour victory came at the 2003 International, birdied two of the last three holes for a 10-under total of 206.

''Conditions were not good,'' the 42-year-old told reporters after a round that included seven birdies and three bogeys. ''It was misty all day, and cold and windy.

''Made it tough on the holes into the wind and certainly didn't feel good on your hands and nose. You had to be real patient. I was very patient and let the good holes come.'' Love, who won the tournament in 1992 and helped redesign the Forest Oaks layout in 2003, is desperate to win his 19th PGA Tour title.

''Unfortunately, I haven't pulled it off enough the last few years but that's pretty much been my whole career,'' he said.

''I've been in the top 25 or 10 a lot and, for one reason or another, haven't won as many as I would have liked.

''I've played poorly sometimes and sometimes guys have played well. I think a lot of it is mental, lot of it is physical.

''But I keep myself around the lead a lot even when I'm not feeling well or playing well. I give myself a lot of chances.'' SURRENDERED LEAD Couch, who clinched his maiden Tour title at the New Orleans Classic in April, surrendered the outright lead by bogeying the par-three 17th where he was bunkered off the tee.

Overall, though, the 33-year-old was delighted with his play.

''Conditions were very tough and I think hitting every fairway helped,'' he said after mixing four birdies with one bogey.

''I hit the ball long off the tee and so when I hit a lot of fairways, it makes the game a lot easier. I felt like I played as good as I could today.'' Australia's John Senden, another first-time champion this season after winning the John Deere Classic in July, returned a 71 to lie joint third at nine under.

Level with Senden were Americans Steve Flesch and Chris Smith, who carded matching 69s.

Smith, whose only Tour victory came at the 2002 Buick Classic, moved one stroke clear of the field with five holes to play before slipping back with bogeys at the 14th and 17th.

Swede Daniel Chopra and American Lucas Glover fired 66s, the best rounds of the day, to finish in a seven-way tie for sixth place at eight under.

Overnight leader Nick Watney, one ahead after a wind-buffeted second round, tumbled to a 74.

The 25-year-old Californian made a poor start, dropping three shots in the first eight holes. After collecting a couple of birdies around the turn, he bogeyed the last two holes to lie three strokes off the pace at seven under.

REUTERS DKS RAI0601