Hjerstedt bids for third B.C. Open win

VERONA, N.Y. -- Gabriel Hjertstedt seems to relish the rain. Bidding to become the third two-time winner of the B.C. Open, Hjertstedt overcame two rain delays Saturday to shoot a 4-under 68 and take a one-shot lead after three rounds.

"I had it going nicely all day," said Hjertstedt, who was at 14-under 202 in his bid to join Joey Sindelar and Brad Faxon as the only two-time winners of the B.C. Open, which is being dropped from the PGA Tour after this year. "I've felt great all week. It's nice to be in the hunt. It's exciting for me."

Hjertstedt, who became the first Swede to win on the PGA Tour when he captured the 1997 B.C. Open, leads Mark Brooks (66) David Branshaw (68) of nearby Oswego, N.Y., and Scott Gump (69).

Hjertstedt, who started with six birdies and nine pars, seemed poised to assume a commanding lead after an 18-foot birdie putt at No. 14 put him at 16 under. But by then the rain had stopped, and that's when he began to falter.

The event is being played at Turning Stone Resort's 2-year-old Atunyote Golf Club course. PGA officials moved the tournament two weeks ago when flooding rendered En-Joie Golf Club, located about 90 miles to the southwest, unplayable.