HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. ? Ted Purdy shot a 6-under-par 65 Saturday to take a four-stroke lead over Heath Slocum after three rounds of the MCI Heritage.

Purdy, whose only career victory came on the Nationwide Tour last year, has the lead in a PGA Tour event for the first time. The 30-year-old seized control with five birdies on the front nine and continued his stellar play down the stretch, moving to 12-under 201.

Purdy, who won the First Tee Arkansas Classic in a playoff last year, qualified for the PGA Tour by finishing 15th on the Nationwide money list.

Purdy, a winner last year on the Nationwide Tour, expects to be able to finish things off today.

“As long as I trust my stuff, I’ll be fine,” he said. “I can do it tomorrow.”

Purdy’s play was a surprise, considering he missed the cut in his last two tournaments and had just one score in the 60s in 12 rounds before this week. His best finish in a PGA Tour event was a tie for 11th at the 2000 Tucson Open, where his $72,000 in earnings surpassed the $46,600 he made in 27 PGA Tour events the previous year.

While Purdy soared, British Open champion Ben Curtis faded with a 4-over 75. Curtis, the second-round leader after a season-best 66, struggled with his putting and fell into a tie for 13th.

Purdy made a 14-foot birdie putt at No. 4 to tie Curtis for the lead and moved ahead with a 9-footer for birdie at the fifth. He added a third straight birdie on the sixth hole, then closed the front side with a 10-foot birdie putt, extending his lead to two strokes. Purdy added a 12-foot birdie putt at the 12th.