McCarron up by 1 entering final round
RENO, Nev. - Scott McCarron's decision to skip the British Open to host the Reno-Tahoe Open on his home course started to make a bit more sense Saturday.
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McCarron shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead at 10 under through three rounds at Montreux Golf & Country Club. He birdie four of his first seven holes before chipping in for eagle on the par-5 ninth, as he bids for his fourth PGA Tour victory and first since 2001.
"It would be absolutely huge," McCarron said. "To win a tournament that you're hosting would be - I can't even describe that, so I'm not going to go there right now."
Robert Garrigus, who started the day tied for the lead with Matt Bettencourt, bogeyed the 18th to finish with a 1-over 73 and slip into a tie with John Mallinger (71) at 9 under.
Graham DeLaet, a native of Canada in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, tied the course record with a 10-under 62 and was another stroke back along with Australian Rod Pampling and Craig Barlow of Henderson, Nev. Both of them shot 67 in the third round.
McCarron, a former Reno resident who now lives in LaQuinta, Calif., said it was a difficult decision to skip the British Open and serve as the formal host in Reno. Part of the job involves helping to secure the 12-year-old tournament a title sponsor.
"The British Open is one of my favorite tournaments and you can't win major tournaments if you're not playing them," said McCarron, who hosted about 80 people at a beach party about 30 miles away at Lake Tahoe on Friday night.
"Playing St. Andrews was something that I certainly was going to miss, but I knew how important it was to the community to get behind this tournament. We need to get a title sponsor to keep this tournament going and the only way to do that, I felt, was to get more involved."
"I'm very happy with my choice being here," McCarron added. "Hosting the tournament has gone extremely well and I've playe
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