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Posted at 5:35 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2007

Unlikely golf pair among leaders in Honda Classic

By Tim Reynolds
Associated Press

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Mark Wilson has been to the PGA Tour's qualifying school 10 straight years, and has gotten so used to the drill that he just assumes it'll be part of his schedule. And Boo Weekley is probably best known for wearing camouflage pants and tennis shoes earlier in his career.

An unlikely pair, for certain.

But they'll be the final group tomorrow at the Honda Classic.

Both shot 4-under 66s today in the third round at PGA National, good enough to put Wilson atop the leaderboard at 6 under and Weekley alone in second, one shot behind entering the final round--where both will seek their first career tour victory.

''If I can walk off that green and know I'll be exempt through 2009, it'll be just a great feeling,'' Wilson said. ''But it's more about the journey, enjoying the whole journey that I've gone on. I played in the 1991 PGA Junior here, for instance. ... And here I am, 16 years later, with a chance to win on the PGA Tour.''

Wilson is 0-for-110 on tour, with a world ranking of 265. And Weekley -- a guy from the Florida Panhandle who speaks with a drawl and is still blown away by the fact that pro golfers get free golf clubs -- hasn't won any of his other 30 starts, with a world ranking of 196.

''When I played the practice round, I didn't think I had a chance,'' said Weekley, who had his first career top-10 tour finish in Mexico last week. ''The golf course, I didn't think it was set up for me real well.''

Daniel Chopra (68) was third at 4 under, and Steve Stricker (70) and Charlie Wi (72) were tied for fourth at 3 under. Robert Allenby (73), who entered the day tied for the lead with Wi, was 4 over on the back nine and was alone in sixth at 2 under.

Hawaii golfers Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin failed to make the cut in this event.

Over the past 11 years, the Honda winner has been someone without a previous victory on tour, a list that includes the likes of Padraig Harrington, Todd Hamilton and Stuart Appleby.

The trend could continue in 2007, with Wilson, Weekley and Chopra -- a combined 0-for-246 entering this week -- all seeking that elusive first title.

''It just goes to show, everybody's good,'' Chopra said. ''There's such tremendous depth on the PGA Tour right now that everyone out here can win.''