Wurtz, Miles Move Into First Enter Final Round Of Lilac With Scores Of 13-Under-Par

It would seem anyone who wants to win the 37th annual Washington Trust Bank Lilac Invitational golf tournament is going to have to hit a moving target.

Californians Mark Wurtz and Mike Miles moved out of the pack during Saturday’s third round to share the lead and then left The Fairways while everyone was trying to sort out the pack because none of the halfway leaders took charge.

What the crowd discovered was Wurtz, from La Quinta, had fired a 7-under-par 65, and Miles, from Huntington Beach, a 66 to share the lead at 13-under 203.

“(Miles and I) traveled in Asia together,” said Eric Rustand, who started the day one back and ended it one back after a 70. “He’s very controlled. I wouldn’t expect any mistakes. He’s a good ball striker and good putter. He’s not going to do anything to come back.”

Doug Duchateau, who had a 66 and is two behind, said, “(Wurtz) did a lot, it was really fun to watch.”

That’s the way today’s final round should be. Thirteen golfers are within seven strokes of the lead playing a course that is known to give up low scores. Those golfers begin teeing off at 1:50 this afternoon with the final group off at 2:30.

Wurtz, who lists Port Ludlow, Wash., as his home, led the first round of the Rosauers Open with a 63.

Saturday’s co-leaders, Todd Pence, an employee of The Fairways in his first professional tournament, and Bob Rannow of Coeur d’Alene struggled.

Rannow double-bogeyed No. 2, was 5 over after five holes, turned at 6-over and finished with a 76 for a 209. Pence had five three-putts, including No. 18, and finished with a 73 to fall three back at 10-under 206.

“I made mistakes today I didn’t the first two rounds, especially with my putter,” said Pence, who had a 64 on Friday. “My approach putting was horrible. My short putting was horrible. My putting was horrible. If I could think of a stronger word than horrible, I would.”

Joining Rustand at one stroke back is Craig Gronning, another employee of The Fairways. Gronning played the front side even, then was 4 under on the back for a 68 to earn a spot in the final group.

Rustand, a long hitter whose drives kept getting away to the right, said, “Craig probably has a leg up. He knows the course and knows the greens, if he can get his putter going.”

Rustand couldn’t get his putter going. He had a bogey on No. 2, thanks to a drive into the third fairway, then had 11 straight pars before getting several putts to drop for three birdies on the final five holes.

“I did not feel comfortable with my putter,” the Tucson, Ariz., native said after being one shot off the lead for the third straight day. “I had all (mid-range putts) instead of some short ones and some long ones.

“I kind of got it in my mind on the backside I would be farther back. I’ll change my strategy. I’ll play the first six kind of conservatively. I’ll attack No. 3 and No. 5 (par 5s). After six, I’ll see where I’m at and attack the back side. I’ve chased a different person every day.”

It appeared Ron Ewing was going to be the player to take charge. He made a long birdie putt on No. 2, and a tap-in birdie on the next hole put him in the lead. He made the turn at minus-2 to trail Pence by one. An eagle on No. 11 put him back in the lead at 13 under, but he had to take a drop for a bogey on 13 and bogeyed No. 14 after hitting a drive out of bounds. He closed with four pars for a 70.

“I wasted a good round today,” the Californian said. “What’s the lead? … That’s good news. I expected to be five or six back.”

Duchateau, from Junction City, Ore., got himself into contention with a 31 on the back side.

“I birdied all the holes I was supposed to,” he said. “I had a flop wedge on 10 and a flop wedge on 11, then the birdie on 12 and an eagle on 14.

“My thought after standing 5 under yesterday was, if I play the next two rounds in double digits, I would be where I want to be. I don’t try to be more specific than that until I’m on 18 - you can confuse yourself. It’s a lot easier to perform when you keep your goals vague. If you just mind your manners, you’ll have some birdies. It’s a fun golf course that way.”

The Creek at Qualchan pro Mark Gardner played himself into contention - “if I get my putter going.”

He had a 65 and is at 9-under 207.

Defending champion Michael Combs of Kennewick had a 69 and is seven back at 210. Two-time champ Mark Rohde had a 67 for a 209. Gary Lindeblad of Indian Canyon, who won two years ago, had a 73 for a 215, one stroke behind six-time winner Chris Mitchell of Sun Dance, who had a 70.

Darin Danekas of Ritzville remains low amateur despite a 75. He’s at 6-under 210.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LEADERBOARD Leaders after the third round of the 72-hole Washington Trust Bank Lilac Invitational at the par-72, 6,398-yard The Fairways: Mike Miles 70-67-66-203 Mark Wurtz 71-67-65-203 Craig Gronning 70-66-68-204 Eric Rustand 65-69-70-204 Ron Ewing 67-68-70-205 Doug Duchateau 70-69-66-205