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Every still leads Nationwide Tour Championship

Sat 24th, October 2009

Charleston, SC (Sports Network) - Playing for a spot on the PGA Tour, Matt Every birdied the 18th hole Saturday to protect his one-shot lead at the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Every overcame a double-bogey at the 16th hole to shoot a five-under 67 and finish three rounds at 16-under 200 -- one stroke ahead of tour money leader Michael Sim.

If he finishes solo third place or better on Sunday, Every, who is currently ranked 49th on the money list, would earn a PGA Tour card for next season.

"A win this week would cover up a lot," admitted Every. "If I win here, it might get me around 10th on the money list. I don't think there are 10 guys out here better than me, but there are definitely 10 guys that have played better than me this year."

The top 25 money winners at the end of this tournament -- the last of 2009 -- will earn their promotions to the big leagues.

Sim, of course, is simply playing for another victory.

Already a three-time winner this season -- he earned an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour after claiming No. 3 in August -- Sim also shot a 67 on Saturday to remain in second place at 15-under 201.

The Scottish-born Australian will try to become only the second player in tour history to win four times in one season -- a feat accomplished by Sean Murphy in 1993.

"I'll go out and play another good round tomorrow and try to win the golf tournament," said Sim, who turned 25 on Friday.

Steve Wheatcroft fired a seven-under 65 and moved into third place at 13-under 203, while Cameron Percy had a 70 to drop into fourth place at 12-under 204.

Esteban Toledo aced the 172-yard 15th hole on the way to posting a 67, which tied him for fifth place with Josh Teater (69) at 11-under 205.

Every was coming off a course-record 63 on Friday (Sim had set the previous mark with a 64 on Thursday at Ralston Creek) that gave him the 36-hole lead. He birdied four of his first five holes on Saturday and held a two-stroke advantage around the turn.

Sim cut that lead in half, however, with a birdie at the 10th, but Every went on to build a three-shot cushion when he birdied the 11th and 13th holes.

Hitting into the water at the 16th, Every took a double-bogey that trimmed his lead to a single stroke again. Sim then tied him at 15-under with a birdie ahead at the 17th.

But Every rolled in a slippery downhill birdie putt at the 18th to re-gain sole possession of the lead and move a step closer to earning a PGA Tour card for the first time.

"I feel like I got my bad round out of the way today," stated Every.