Japan's Imada, Matteson share Altanta lead

ATLANTA, May 20 (Reuters) Japan's Ryuji Imada birdied the last hole to tie Troy Matteson for the lead after three rounds of the Atlanta Classic in Duluth, Georgia here.

Imada and Matteson, who began the day as co-leaders, both registered three-under-par 69s on the firm and fast Tournament Players Club Sugarloaf course to stand at 13-under-par 203.

Camilo Villegas of Colombia, who like Imada is looking for his first US PGA Tour victory, ran off three successive birdies from the fifth on the way to a 68 and three round total of 205.

The co-leaders, both products of Georgia colleges and veterans of the Nationwide Tour, said they enjoyed their day together and looked forward to today's final round.

''We were having a lot of fun. It's fun to play with guys that you played with in college before, and Ryuji is a nice guy,'' Matteson, 27, told reporters.

Imada, who rolled in a 50-foot birdie putt at the par-three 16th, said the atmosphere was unusual for a PGA event.

''It was different, but it was a lot of fun,'' he said.

DOGS AND YELLOW JACKETS Imada, 30, played for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, while Matteson was a Georgia Tech ''Yellow Jacket''.

''Seemed like there were an even number of fans that came out for him and for myself, and you know, it was fun to hear the 'Go Dogs' and the 'go Yellow Jackets' all day,'' Matteson said.

Three behind the co-leaders were Masters champion Zach Johnson, two-times U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen and their fellow-American Matt Kuchar, another former Georgia Tech student.

Johnson shot 69 and Janzen posted a 67, while 1997 US Amateur champion Kuchar matched the tournament's low score of the week with a bogey-free eight-under-par 64.

Lurking four strokes off the pace at 207 was a group of five players, including former U.S. PGA champion Steve Elkington of Australia, who is seeking his first US tour victory since the 1999 Doral.

Reuters AKD DB1902