Rookie McNeill takes five-shot lead with 67

Rookie George McNeill quietly took over sole possession of the lead in the Frys.com Open at Las Vegas, with John Daly on his heels for much of the day and generating all kinds of attention.

There may be a little more fanfare if McNeill holds on for his first PGA Tour title.

McNeill shot Saturday’s low round at five-under 67 on a tough scoring day at TPC Summerlin, making birdies on four of his last eight holes to retain the top spot on the leaderboard with a total 13-under 197 and a five-stroke lead over two others heading into today’s final round.

A tiny gallery of about 20 fans walked with the leaders, who were followed closely by Daly and his usual big crowd. Daly was tied for 68th at one under after a 77.

The 32-year-old McNeill -- who only last year worked as an assistant pro in Fort Myers, Fla. -- began the third round in a three-way tie for the lead. He overcame a pair of bogeys on the front nine, and was 17 for 17 on putts from 10 feet or closer.

McNeill’s lead equaled the largest on the PGA Tour this year going into the final day, also done in August by Steve Flesch in the Reno-Tahoe Open.

Robert Garrigus and D.J. Trahan were tied for second at 13 under. Garrigus shot a 68 for a three-day total of 202, having already moved up the leaderboard with his 63 on Friday.

Six-time champion Ernie Els beat Henrik Stenson, 3 and 2, to set up a championship match against U.S. Open winner Angel Cabrera in the World Match Play Championship at Virginia Water, England. Cabrera beat Hunter Mahan, 2 and 1.

Bernhard Langer shot a seven-under 65, easily erasing an early bogey with eight birdies, to keep a four-shot lead after the second round of the Champions Tour’s Administaff Small Business Classic at Spring, Texas.

Langer’s 17-under 127 total broke the 36-hole tournament record of 128 set by defending champion Jay Haas last year and gave the two-time Masters champion a comfortable margin over Mark O’Meara (64) and Texan Tom Kite (65).