Harrison, N.Y. ? Chris Smith needed 30 holes Saturday to take the third-round lead in the Buick Classic.

Up at 4:30 a.m. for the completion of the second round, the long-hitting who played at Ohio State had a two-putt birdie on the par-5 18th to break a tie with Loren Roberts and David Gossett.

“It’s been a long day,” said Smith, who finished off a 3-under 69 in the morning and added a 67. “I don’t get tired physically, but I could feel myself getting mentally tired the last three or four holes. I was having trouble concentrating.”

The five-time Buy.com Tour winner was at 11-under 202 on the Westchester Country Club’s West Course. Gossett and Roberts, neighbors in Germantown, Tenn., were a stroke back, and Pat Perez and Canadian Ian Leggatt followed at 9-under.

Smith has seven birdies in nine tries on the par-5s, making par only on No. 9 in the first and second rounds to move into position for his first tour victory.

“It’s something that I’ve worked for for a long time,” said Smith, who failed to qualify for next week’s U.S. Open.