Staten up 1 in North Carolina

Published June 02, 2012

| Sports Network

Raleigh, NC – B.J. Staten carded a five-under 66 in Saturday's third round to grab a one-stroke lead at the Rex Hospital Open.

Staten, who will go for his first tour win on Sunday, finished 54 holes at 13- under-par 200.

Jim Renner, who played in the penultimate group with Staten, posted a four- under 67 to move into second place at minus-12.

Second-round leader Justin Hicks carded a even-par 71 to slip into a share of third at 10-under-par 203. He stands alongside Scott Parel (67) and Reid Edstrom (68).

The second round at the TPC Wakefield Plantation was completed earlier on Saturday after being suspended by storms on Friday.

Staten flew up the leaderboard early on the front nine. After a birdie on the second, he poured in three consecutive birdie tries from the fourth to jump into the lead at 12-under.

The 34-year-old tripped to his first bogey of the week at the eighth, but he fought right back with a birdie on No. 9.

"I think I've been really patient all week and just come out trying to hit fairways and greens," Staten said. "Anytime you can go 43 holes before you make your first [bogey], you know you're going to make some birdies and have some opportunities."

Renner birdied the fourth and sixth to move to 10-under. He parred six in a row from the seventh. Renner drained back-to-back birdie efforts on the 13th and 14th to briefly grab the lead at 12-under.

Staten, after four straight pars, stumbled to a bogey on No. 14 to slip one back at minus-11. He atoned for that mistake with a birdie on 15, then regained the lead by himself when he ran home a 50-footer for birdie at the last.

NOTES: Because of the weather delays on Friday, Staten played 29 holes on Saturday, while Renner played 30...This is the fourth time Staten has had at least a piece of the 54-hole lead, but he remains winless...The cut came at two-under-par 140 earlier Saturday and 60 players made it to the final two rounds...Ryan Nelson (65) and Jin Park (65) both Monday qualified for this event and are tied for 10th at minus-eight.

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