Hnatiuk holds St. Jude lead after third 65

? Glen Hnatiuk proved he can protect a lead Saturday, shooting a third consecutive 6-under-par 65 that kept him atop the leaderboard with a four-stroke margin after three rounds of the St. Jude Classic.

Hnatiuk had never led a PGA tournament before this week, but he put himself in position to win his first title wire-to-wire with an eight-birdie, two-bogey round that gave him an 18-under 195 total.

Notah Begay, enjoying his best tournament since a back injury essentially wiped out his 2001 season, shot a 68 and was tied at 14 under with Tim Petrovic (66) and Matt Kuchar (67). Pat Bates (69) was five strokes back.

David Toms (65), Tripp Isenhour (64) and Neal Lancaster (64) were tied at 12-under 201.

Hnatiuk shared a one-stroke lead with Petrovic after a suspended first round and had a one-stroke lead to himself following the second.

He didn’t hit his irons as well Saturday, but relied on his short game as he scrambled to keep his lead, including two chip-ins for birdie. Hnatiuk wasted no time stretching his lead as he birdied his first two holes and went to 14 under.