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Mark Wilson well placed to win first PGA Tour event

Mark Wilson has been to the US PGA Tour's qualifying school for 10 straight years, and has gotten so used to the drill that he just assumes it'll be part of his schedule. And Boo Weekley is probably best known for wearing camouflage pants and tennis shoes earlier in his career.

An unlikely pair, for certain.

But they were both in the final group yesterday at the Honda Classic.

Both shot 4-under 66s on Saturday in the third round at PGA National, good enough to put Wilson atop the leaderboard at 6 under and Weekley alone in second, one shot behind entering the final round -- where both will seek their first career tour victory.

"If I can walk off that green and know I'll be exempt through 2009, it'll be just a great feeling," Wilson said. "But it's more about the journey, enjoying the whole journey that I've gone on. I played in the 1991 PGA Junior here, for instance...And here I am, 16 years later, with a chance to win on the US PGA Tour."

Wilson is winless in 110 events on tour, with a world ranking of 265. And Weekley -- who speaks with a drawl and is still blown away by the fact that pro golfers get free golf clubs -- hasn't won any of his other 30 starts, with a world ranking of 196.

"When I played the practice round, I didn't think I had a chance," said Weekley, who had his first career top-10 tour finish in Mexico last week. "The golf course, I didn't think it was set up for me real well."

Daniel Chopra (68) is alone in third place at 4 under, while Steve Stricker (70) and Charlie Wi (72) were tied for fourth at 3 under. Robert Allenby (73), who entered the day tied for the lead with Wi, was 4 over on the back and is alone in sixth at 2 under.

Defending champion Luke Donald was 6 over.
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