Weir leads as Garcia challenges

THIRD ROUND LEADERBOARD: US unless stated
-17 M Weir (Can) -16 C Villegas (Col) -14 S Garcia (Spa), V Singh (Fij) -13 J Furyk, B Crane, E Els (SA) Selected others: -7 B Davis (Eng) -5 M Laird (Sco)

---

Canadian Weir was 13 under coming into the third round

Canada's Mike Weir takes a one-stroke lead into the final round after he birdied the 18th hole on day three of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Weir is on 17 under after a four-under 67 with Colombia's Camilo Villegas one behind after a bogey-free round of 63.

Spain's Sergio Garcia and Fiji's Vijay Singh share third on 14 under with South Africa's Ernie Els and Jim Furyk and Ben Crane a stroke behind.

Garcia is the only European still in realistic contention of winning.

"I'm as hungry as anybody else," he said after shooting a three-under-par 68 in Boston.

"I feel like I'm playing well and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

England's Ian Poulter and Paul Casey both missed the cut - though were still selected as Nick Faldo's Ryder Cup wildcards on Sunday - but the two British players who did progress past halfway are well off the pace, with Brian Davis trailing by 10 shots and Martin Laird by 12.

Overnight leader Tim Clark of South Africa fired a 73 that included six bogeys in nine holes from the eighth to the 16th.

But he salvaged a share of eighth on 12 under thanks to birdies on the last two holes of the day three in the second event of the PGA Tour's play-off series.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the Deutsche Bank Championship

Highly rated prospect Villegas, who has never won on the PGA Tour, putted superbly to storm into second place on the leaderboard despite windy conditions.

"What a great day," he said. "My caddie and I did a good job in terms of the wind, so I'm happy with the way I handled myself out there.

"I've always known that I'm a good player but I've always believed I can improve.

"I've been getting better and better every year. We'll keep working to continue it that way and become one of the best players in the world."