Johnson fires bogey-free 65 to take lead in Raleigh

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Kevin Johnson is looking for his first Nationwide Tour win since 2000.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kevin Johnson took advantage of near-perfect conditions at TPC Wakefield Plantation and turned in a bogey-free 65 to take sole possession of the lead at 14-under par at the 2009 Rex Hospital Open. In close pursuit are Rich Barcelo at 13 under, Jim McGovern at 12 under and another nine players three shots back at 11 under.

A four-time winner on the Nationwide Tour, Johnson will be looking to step back into the winner's circle for the first time since 2006. He has held a share of the 54-hole lead four times in his career and gone on win twice.

"I hit it solidly all day and had good chances on every hole," he remarked. "You know, I've been playing well and just kind of 'hanging in there' all week -- and season -- so it feels great to have it come together on a day like this."

The 42-year-old Johnson has made all but two cuts in the nine events he's played in 2009 and is currently 24th on the Nationwide Tour money list. The top-25 earners at the end of the season are awarded PGA TOUR cards for 2010.

After playing the first seven holes at even par, Barcelo (Long Beach, Calif.) did not make another par until the 17th hole. From Nos. 8 to 16, he made six birdies, two bogeys and a chip-in for eagle from 15 yards on the par-5 13th hole.

"I was proud of my bounce-backs," he said of that run of holes. "Every time I made a bogey I came right back with a birdie on the next."

Barcelo was also one of numerous players to comment on the condition of the golf course at TPC Wakefield Plantation. "This course is in tremendous shape. The greens are probably the best we play all year," he said. "Especially considering all of the rain we've had this week, you really have to give credit to the superintendent and his staff."

Barcelo

The 36-hole leaders had mixed success in the third round. Jeff Gallagher (Marion, Ind.) was steady with a 2-under 69 and remains in contention in a tie for fourth. The others all shot over par on Saturday and lost ground -- New Zealand's Bradley Iles shot 1 over and is tied for 24th, Jeff Curl, of Redding, Calif., shot 3 over and is tied for 39th and Australia's Scott Gardiner shot 5 over and is tied for 53rd.

Current Nationwide Tour money leader Michael Sim (Australia) struggled with an even-par 71 that included four birdies and four bogeys. He remains at 7 under and is seven shots off the lead. Sim is looking for his third win of the season and an instant promotion to the PGA TOUR.

It was mostly sunny and less humid Saturday as drier air settled into the region. High temperatures rose into the mid-80s. Winds were out of the north-northwest at 6 to 12 mph. Generally dry conditions are expected on Sunday with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon.

The third round began on time at 7:50 a.m. and ended at approximately 5:25 p.m. The fourth round begins at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning with twosomes going off the first tee in nine-minute intervals. The final group will tee off at 12:55 p.m.

Third-round notes

• Chris Baryla (Canada) made the cut on the number Friday. He took the early clubhouse lead at on Saturday after firing an 8-under-par 63 that included six consecutive birdies on Nos. 8 to 13. This is Baryla's career low round as a professional.

• Several 2008 Nationwide Tour graduates are in the field this week, including David Mathis (11 under, tied for fourth), Darron Stiles (4 under, tied for 53rd), Brendon De Jonge and Brendon Todd (3 under, tied for 61st). Also playing is 2005 graduate Jason Gore (7 under, tied for 29th). These players did not get into the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial on the PGA TOUR and still have status on the Nationwide Tour. Playing competitive tournament rounds helps to keep their games in top form.

• Fair weather, soft course conditions and favorable pin positions contributed to low scores in Round 3. The course played nearly a stroke less relative to par than it did on Friday.