McNeill chasing second title

A familiar face returned to the leaderboard Saturday at TPC Summerlin.

George McNeill, who won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2007 when it was the Frys.com Open, played himself into contention with the day's best round, an 8-under-par 63.

McNeill, whose only PGA Tour win came here, is tied for fourth place at 15 under, two shots behind co-leaders Scott Piercy and Chad Campbell, heading into today's final round. He said Saturday's round brought back memories of when he was striking the ball well and putting even better.

"I have a good feeling when I come here," he said. "I haven't felt so good about my golf game as of late. I've missed four cuts in a row. But coming back here, I felt pretty good about playing."

McNeill missed three of those four cuts by one shot. He has been going through a swing change and he said he's just now starting to get comfortable.

"I was inconsistent," he said. "My swing was too flat and getting way too far around my body versus getting out in front of me. Now, I'm back to where I used to be."

McNeill said having won at TPC Summerlin before can only help him today.

"I'm sure I'll draw from the experience at some point," he said. "I won't have a five-shot lead like then, but I'm comfortable with my swing and we'll see if it holds up."

• LOCALS UPDATE -- In addition to Piercy and Campbell, who are tied for the lead, several golfers with area ties remained in action Saturday.

Former UNLV stars Charley Hoffman (tied for eighth) and Ryan Moore (tied for 11th) are in contention after Hoffman had a 7-under 64 and Moore a 1-under 70. Summerlin resident Rickie Fowler is also tied for 11th after he posted a 2-under 69.

Dean Wilson, who lives in Las Vegas, shot 5 under Saturday and is tied for 25th place. Former UNLV star Chris Riley continued his climb up the leaderboard, finishing his third round with a 4-under 67, and sits in a tie for 32nd place. Las Vegas resident Alex Cejka, who was 1 under during his third round, is also tied for 32nd.

Other golfers with local ties included Bill Lunde, a former Rebel who was 3 under at 68 and is tied for 47th, along with Tommy Armour III, who attended Bishop Gorman High School. Armour was 3 under and shot a 68. Ernie Gonzalez, who was 2 under at 69, is tied for 52nd.

• BEST EVER -- Piercy's three-round total of 196 is the best 54-hole score of his career. The Las Vegan's previous best was 202, set three times. Campbell's 196 equals his best 54-hole total, set in 2006 at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

• GOOD SPOT -- Campbell is dangerous when he leads going into the final round. He has had six 54-hole leads or co-leads and has never finished worse than second. Campbell has two wins and four runner-up finishes.

This year on the PGA Tour, the third-round leader or co-leader has won 23 of 41 events.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.