GOLF:Rocco Mediate, the highest-ranked player in the field, was on course to win his first PGA tournament in nearly 21 months last night as he led by four shots with three holes to play in the Greater Greensboro Classic.

Mediate had birdied the first three holes on Saturday in a six-under 66 round that enabled him to open a two-shot lead after 54 holes over Mark Calcavecchia and he extended that advantage over the opening 15 holes last night, posting birdies at the fifth, sixth and 15th holes. He had a lone bogey at the fourth.

Ranked 17th in the world, Mediate was on 15-under-par 201 after three rounds at the Forest Oaks Country Club as he chased his fifth career victory and first since the Buick Open in August 2000.

"You couldn't ask for a better start," he said of his Saturday round. "I just kept it going. I made mistakes and came back with a birdie on number seven and just kept rolling."

Mediate has had an inconsistent year, missing a pair of cuts but also posting a pair of third-place finishes. He has improved his score in each round here, shooting a 68 on Thursday and a 67 on Friday.

Calcavecchia has played well when trailing, winning five of his 10 career titles in come-from-behind fashion.

Mediate was trying to win in Greensboro for the second time, having won here nine years ago. However, it would be far short of the record for the longest span between victories in the same tournament.