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ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. (AP) - Heath Slocum made his first bogey in 50 holes at Sea Island but did little else wrong Saturday, posting a third straight 4-under 66 to take a one-shot lead at the new McGladrey Classic.

Slocum stuck to his formula on the Seaside course, trying to keep it out of the fickle Bermuda rough and making enough putts to keep himself in position to win for the second straight year.

He was at 12-under 198, one shot ahead of Troy Merritt and Joe Durant. Slocum will play in the final group with Merritt, a PGA Tour rookie who had a bogey-free 64 at just the right time. Like so many others at this Fall Series event, Merritt is trying to finish among the top 125 on the money list to keep his card. Merritt came into this tournament at No. 123.

Joe Durant, who started the year with limited status, is at No. 131. He put himself in the mix by running off four straight birdies toward the end of his front nine for a 68.

Toward the end of another gorgeous day on the Golden Isles, it was a matter of keeping mistakes at a minimum.

David Toms, the 36-hole leader, stumbled twice along the St. Simons Sound. He pitched over the 14th green and had to scramble for bogey, then caught a flier from the rough over the green on the par-5 15th and had made another bogey. Toms shot a 70, but still was only two shots out of the lead going into a Sunday that could be wide open.

Twenty players were separated by five shots going into the last round.

That includes Davis Love III, the tournament host, who thrilled his hometown crowd with a 65. Love is among three players who spent last week in the rain and muck of Celtic Manor for the Ryder Cup. He was a vice captain, and the likely choice to be captain for 2012 when the Ryder Cup returns to America.

For now, he is thinking about winning - and running a tournament.

``Not a whole lot of expectations, but I've been hitting it better every day, and now I'm made because I've had two bogeys on No. 6 and three bogeys on 16, or I'd be right in the tournament,'' Love said. ``I'm doing better than I expected, but you know, you're supposed to play good on your home course.''

Two Ryder Cup players were on their last leg. Zach Johnson shot a 68 and was at 6-under 204, six shots behind, while Matt Kuchar was another shot behind after a 68.

Kuchar is playing his final official event of the year and has a good chance at winning the money title and Vardon Trophy.

``One more round,'' he said, wiping his forehead after he finished.

For so many others, their season has a long way to go. Durant was among six players within four shots of the lead who were outside the top 125 on the money list, a group that includes Tom Pernice Jr.

Pernice, who turned 50 last year and won in his debut on the Champions Tour, is adamant about playing against the best. He is skipping a senior major this week to play the Fall Series at No. 142 on the money list, and gave himself a good chance with a 65 to join the large group at 8-under 202.

Love hosted a party for the players earlier this week, and PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem dropped by.

``He said, 'What are you doing here? Why aren't you at the (Senior) Players?''' Pernice said. ``I said, 'Well, I'm trying to get my card out here.' That's been by goal from the get-go.''

Slocum is simply trying to win, as he does every week.

The situation is quite different from his last victory, The Barclays, when he opened the FedEx Cup playoffs with a birdie putt on the last hole to beat Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Steve Stricker and Padraig Harrington.

This isn't quite the same field at Sea Island, although it doesn't matter to Slocum.

``I have the same desire to win,'' he said.