TIMONIUM, Md. — Loren Roberts has been here before, leading the Senior Players Championship after 54 holes.

He can only hope for a better ending this time around.

Roberts overcame a slow start to shoot a 3-under 67 yesterday and take a three-stroke lead over Fred Funk in the Champions Tour's final major of the year.

A year ago, Roberts held a two-shot lead after three rounds. But he shot a 74 on the final day to tie for third.

Roberts, who is at 10-under 200, intends to dismiss that memory when he tees off in the final threesome today with Funk, who fired a 66 for 203, and Tom Watson, who shot a 68 to surge into third place at 5 under 205.

"I'm just going to go out and play golf. That's what I've been doing for the first three days," Roberts said. "I expect it to be a lot of fun with Fred and Tom Watson on top of that."

First-round co-leader Mark Wiebe shot a 69 to move into a fourth-place tie at 206 with Des Smyth (70) and Dave Eger (70). Jay Haas, the leading money winner on the tour this year, shot 67 and was tied with Dana Quigley (67) and Gil Morgan (70) seven shots back at 207.

ELSEWHERE

Valero Texas Open: Jesper Parnevik moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory in 6 1/2 years, shooting a 4-under 66 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the Valero Texas Open at San Antonio.

The 42-year-old Swede is at 18-under 192 on the LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course after opening with rounds of 61 and 65. He won the last of his five PGA Tour titles in the 2001 Honda Classic.

Fellow Swede Mathias Gronberg was 15 under after a 65. Texan Justin Leonard, the 2000 and '01 winner, was 14 under after a 64.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, fired a 66 and is at 9-under 201.

Longs Drugs Challenge: Suzann Pettersen chipped in from about 35 yards on the par-5 ninth hole for her second eagle of the round, and finished with a season-best 8-under 64 to take the third-round lead in the Longs Drugs Challenge at Danville, Calif.

Pettersen, the 26-year-old Norwegian who won the Michelob Ultra Open in May for her first LPGA Tour title and took the McDonald's LPGA Championship in June for her first major victory, had a 12-under 204 total for a one-stroke lead over Canadian Lorie Kane (67). Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa (67) was another stroke behind at 10 under.

Dunhill Links Championship: England's Nick Dougherty shot a 6-under 66 at St. Andrews to take a three-stroke lead in the Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrew's. Scotland.

Dougherty had a 17-under 199 total after three rounds at Kingsbarns, Carnoustie and the Old Course. The final round will be played at St. Andrews.