Ryder Cup hopeful Zach Johnson rode the momentum of an opening-hole eagle to grab a one-point lead after the third round of the rain-delayed International yesterday.
The 30-year-old American collected a week-high 15 points for an overall tally of 27 in the modified Stableford scoring system.
Chasing his second PGA Tour title, Johnson holed out with a 90-yard wedge for an eagle-two at the first and picked up five more shots in a blemish-free display at Castle Pines Golf Club.
That left him one ahead of compatriot Steve Flesch, who notched up 13 points in the third round, and two ahead of Canada's Ian Leggatt and American Stewart Cink.
US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman, whose last PGA Tour victory came at the 2000 Phoenix Open, was a further point behind in fifth place with an overall haul of 24.
"Today is moving day, as they call it, and I got off to a decent start," Johnson told reporters.
"I kind of kept that momentum, had some good saves, felt good about things and ended well.
"Making that eagle was just momentum. It breeds confidence, and fortunately I was able to keep it going."
Johnson, ninth in the U.S. Ryder Cup standings with just next week's PGA Championship remaining before the 12-man team is decided, is determined to make his Cup debut.
"It's my biggest goal of the year, something that I really, really want badly," he said, referring to the September 22nd-24th showdown with Europe at the K Club.
Lehman has been impressed with Johnson's consistency this season.
"He's been very steady, had some good tournaments," the 46-year-old said after climbing up the third-round leaderboard with a mix of five birdies and two bogeys.
"The thing I like is that his bad tournaments have not been too bad. He plays poorly and finishes 30th or 25th.
"That's a very comfortable thought when you're going into an international competition, assuming he makes the team, when you know that your player's good golf and bad golf is still pretty good."
The third-round cut fell on 15 points with first-round leader Mathias Gronberg of Sweden, Britons David Howell and Justin Rose and former major champions Davis Love III and Justin Leonard among those missing out.
Johnson was one of 70 players who had to return to Castle Pines on Saturday morning to finish the second round after Friday's action was halted in fading light following a heavy afternoon thunderstorm.
The halfway cut fell on six points with Masters champion Phil Mickelson and twice British Open winner Greg Norman among those missing out.
Under the tournament's modified Stableford scoring format, two points are awarded for a birdie, five for an eagle and eight for an albatross (double-eagle).
A bogey earns a one-point deduction while three points are subtracted for a double-bogey or worse.
