Endicott, N.Y. ? Jonathan Byrd stayed in the catbird seat in the B.C. Open. Barely.

Byrd shot a 4-under-par 68 on Saturday to maintain his one-shot lead after three rounds.

Byrd, who never had led a tournament after three rounds, was at 16-under 200 but had a flock of challengers in his wake.

Robert Gamez, Ted Purdy, Tommy Tolles, Notah Begay and John Morgan each trailed by one shot.

Purdy, Gamez and Tolles each shot 65, Begay had a 66 and Morgan a 68 to finish at 201. Colombian rookie Camilo Villegas, who was alone at 202 after a 67, led another group of 20 players within four strokes of the top.

Gamez opened with a 75 but shot 11-under 61 in the second round to equal the tournament record, then moved into a tie for second with his second straight bogey-free round.