Haskins widens lead to four with one round to go at Champions Q-School

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Steve Haskins of El Paso, Texas, a 16-year Nationwide Tour veteran and the son of late Hall of Fame basketball coach Don Haskins, is now on the verge of doing something he was never able to do when he was younger -- earn fully-exempt status on the PGA Tour.

Haskins fired a 6-under-par 65 on Thursday to extend his lead to four strokes over two-time PGA Tour winner Ronnie Black after three rounds of the Champions Tour's National Qualifying Tournament on the Champions Course at the TPC Scottsdale. Haskins' 54-hole total of 17-under-par 199 is the lowest three-round score at this event since Bob Gilder was 18 under at Eagles Pines Golf Club at Walt Disney World in 2000.

Haskins started the day with a two-stroke lead over five players and got off to a fast start, shooting 5-under 30 on his front nine (five birdies). He added a pair of birdies on his second nine and, despite closing with a three-putt bogey at No. 18, is in good shape to secure playing privileges on the 2010 Champions Tour.

Black shot 7-under 64 Thursday to move up from a tie for 11th into solo second. Black's round included nine birdies, with four in a row on Nos. 12-15, and a lone bogey on No. 18.

After making the final stage of the PGA Tour's qualifying school 14 times in 17 years and never reaching the big stage, Haskins now has a golden opportunity to redeem himself. He left professional golf after the 2005 season and has been working for T&T Staff Management, an El Paso-based employee leasing company for the last four years. He did qualify for the U.S. Senior Open this year and tied for 22nd at Crooked Stick Golf Club near Indianapolis.

"I played steady again today and I'll try to play another good round tomorrow," Haskins said. "I think I'll try to play the way I've been playing, cautiously aggressive, and see what happens."

Peter Senior, a winner of 19 tournaments in Australia as well as four events on the European Tour, bogeyed the par-5 17th to fall back into a tie for third with PGA Tour veteran and Golf Channel analyst Curt Byrum, five shots back of Haskins.

With near-perfect scoring conditions for a third second consecutive day, 39 players posted rounds in the 60s. Quinn Griffing carded the low round of the tournament, an 8-under 63 that included 11 3s on his scorecard. Griffing's round moved him up 32 places into a tie for 16th place, the biggest move by any player in the field.

Here is where other former winners on either the PGA Tour/Champions Tour stand heading into the final round: Bruce Vaughan (T7), R.W. Eaks (T10), David Peoples (T14), Ron Streck (T16), Ted Schulz (T21), Jay Don Blake (T30), Trevor Dodds (T30), Chip Beck (T26), John Harris (T33), Keith Clearwater (T33), Mark W. Johnson (T40), , Mike Nicolette (T40), Wayne Grady (T55), John Morse (T61), James Mason (T61), Gary Hallberg (T65), Bobby Clampett (T70) and Denis Watson (WD).

At the end of play on Friday, the top five finishers earn fully-exempt status for the 2010 season, while the next seven players will be conditionally exempt. In addition, the top 30 finishers and ties will be eligible to compete for spots in open qualifiers at all co-sponsored events on the Champions Tour next year.

The $200,000 purse features a $30,000 check for first place.

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