LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. --- George McNeill stepped onto the 18th tee with a two-stroke lead, and was surprisingly still feeling good after just making bogey.
That's because everybody else also was struggling, too.
"It was funny. Justin Rose walked up on the tee and he says, 'Man, out of the three guys making 5, I think there's one guy that is actually happy about it,' " McNeill recalled. "I think he was right because Justin Leonard turned around and kind of gave him a look."
That was only the beginning.
McNeill closed with a double bogey Saturday for a share of the lead entering the final round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic, giving hope to others who seemed far out of contention.
McNeill shot 3-under-par 69 that left him tied with Rose (69), Leonard (71) and Mathias Gronberg (66) at 13-under 203.
Augusta native Charles Howell is at 211 after 71 and former Louisville, Ga., resident Brian Gay is at 212 after 73.
"I felt back in the tournament, and I felt like it was going to be us three guys fighting it out," Rose said. "Then all of a sudden now we're in a tournament where it's a complete logjam."
McNeill kept his poise after two early bogeys. But he gave back three strokes on the final two holes, including the double bogey on the 18th.
McNeill found trouble from the outset.
His first shot of the day hooked past the brush and into the trees, forcing him to take a drop before guiding the ball 20 feet from the hole. McNeill two-putted for bogey but gained six strokes back on six holes later in the round.
None were bigger than when McNeill sank a 34-foot putt for eagle on the 10th and made a 30-footer for another eagle on the 14th.
"I can't remember the last time I made two eagles in a round," said McNeill, who won the 2007 Frys.com Open for his lone tour title. "So I was pretty excited about those."
After making bogey on the 17th, McNeill's final drive landed out of play. He took a drop before missing a 10-foot bogey putt to take the lead into the final round.
Leonard, the leader after two rounds, had his troubles as well.
He had a five-shot lead after five holes and seemed as if he were going to run away with the tournament. But one hole did him in. His drive on the 11th sliced way right, bounced off the cart path and splashed into the water. He was able to fade the next shot 30 feet from the pin and two-putted for bogey.
The competition to secure tour cards next year won't be decided until today.
Only those who finish in the top 125 on the money list are guaranteed full status. The next 25 will at least get conditional status and be able to enter more than a dozen tournaments.
Rich Beem was among those in danger. The 2002 PGA Championship winner shot 68, and he is projected to finish No. 128 on the money list unless he improves in the final round.
Jeff Maggert and Ricky Barnes stayed inside the 125 cut line for full status with solid rounds.
LPGA TOUR: In Guadalajara, Mexico, Michelle Wie took a share of the lead in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational after shooting 2-under-par 70 to match Cristie Kerr at 10-under.
Winless on the LPGA Tour, Wie had four birdies and two bogeys at Guadalajara Country Club. Kerr shot 67.
Second-round leader Jiyai Shin (74) was a stroke back along with Paula Creamer (71) and first-round leader Song-Hee Kim (70). The top-ranked Ochoa (72) was six strokes behind at 4-under.
EUROPEAN/ASIAN TOUR: In Hong Kong, Gregory Bourdy, of France, shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 63 to take the lead heading into the final round of the $2.5 million Hong Kong Open.
Robert-Jan Derksen, of The Netherlands, was the only one of the three other overnight leaders to keep pace with Bourdy, shooting 65 to stay within two strokes after the third round.
Bourdy, a two-time winner on the European Tour, maintained his form from Friday, making seven birdies.
JAPAN GOLF TOUR: In Gotemba, Japan, Hirofumi Miyase shot 5-under-par 67 to take a one-stroke clubhouse lead before darkness suspended the rainy third round at the Taiheiyo Masters.
Miyase had five birdies in a bogey-free outing. He was one of only nine players to complete the round after the start was delayed 3 hours because of heavy rain at Taiheiyo Club.
Miyase was at 7-under 209 overall, while Daisuke Maruyama (68) eagled the 18th and was a shot back along with PGA Tour player Ryuji Imada (69).
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