CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) – Peter Jacobsen fired a 1-under par 69 Saturday and retained a one-stroke lead through three rounds at the Greater Hartford Open with a chance to earn his first PGA Tour win in eight years.

The 49-year-old tour veteran protected his second-round lead with aggressive play to outlast a field of younger and longer-hitting players.

Jacobsen, eligible for the Champions Tour next year, won this event in 1984 when the tournament moved from nearby Wethersfield to the TPC at River Highlands. With a victory Sunday, he would become the final winner of the GHO, which will be called the Buick Championship next year.

Jacobsen’s 54-hole total of 199 is 11 under.

One stroke behind Jacobsen is Chris Riley (63) and Willie Wood (68) at 200. Riley’s round of 7 under was the lowest of the day. Kenny Perry (67) and Craig Barlow (68) were two strokes back, tied at 201.

Jacobsen and Jay Haas were the second-round leaders, starting the day at 10 under with a one-stroke lead on the field. But both had trouble hitting the greens early and had to scramble to stay even through four holes. They bogeyed the long No. 5 par 3. Haas never recovered and finished with a 5-over 75.

Jacobsen birdied No. 7 to go back to 10 under. But by then he was in a three-way tie with Wood and tour rookie Darron Stiles.

Wood surged ahead, making birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 to go 13 under. But his aggressive play eventually cost him. A triple bogey on No. 15, when his drive landed in the water at the drivable 296-yard par 4, brought him back to the pack.

“There’s a lot of strategy involved in that hole,” Wood said of No. 15. “And I’m laying up tomorrow.”

Wood was paired with local favorite J.J. Henry, a Fairfield native and for a while they were the hot twosome of the day. Henry was 9 under with six holes to play when he triple-bogeyed.

“If he and I don’t have triples, we’re playing in the last group together tomorrow,” Wood said.

AP-ES-07-26-03 1905EDT