Furyk and Love soar at Seaside

Say this about Jim Furyk: he is resilient.

With a disappointing and winless 2012 season coming to a close, the 42-year old Furyk is seeking to cap the year on a high note as he shares the 54-hole lead at the McGladrey Classic with Ryder Cup captain and tournament host Davis Love III at 13-under par.

Just three weeks removed from his bogey-bogey finish and loss to Sergio Garcia in the Sunday singles match at the Ryder Cup, Furyk matched his opening round 66 and had sole possession of the lead for most of the day. Love, who also shot 66, birdied the 18th to set up a final round pairing between the two friends. Furyk, who has not won a PGA Tour event since the Tour Championship in 2010, has not recorded a bogey since the 7th hole in the opening round on Thursday.

Arjun Atwal , the second round leader, came in with a 1-under par 69 and is two strokes back along with D.J. Trahan (66) at 11-under par. Atwal and Trahan are both fighting to claw their way into the top 125 on the Tour money list. At their current positions in the McGladrey Classic, Trahan would be 123rd and Atwal would be 143rd on the money list.

Bud Cauley, co-leader after the first round, was alone in fifth place at 10-under par with a 68 and is making his case for Rookie of the Year honors as he seeks his first career victory.

Five players, including defending champion Ben Crane who tied the course record with a sizzling 62, are tied for sixth place at 9-under par. Crane, who made the cut on the number, made a charge from seven strokes back with eleven holes to play on the final day last year to take the top prize at this. venue. He credited his improved play with a slight change in his putting stance which he worked on after his round Friday and again Saturday morning. Ben Crane is tied with Will Claxton (65), Rory Sabbatini (67), Charles Howell III (67) and Matthew Goggin (68).

But the big story for Sunday comes back to Furyk and Love. With his 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, Love positioned himself to gain his first tour victory since 2008. In addition to competing in this event, Love is also playing the role of host as the Sea Island course is almost in his back yard.

Has anyone had a more heartbreaking year than Furyk? First, he lost a four-man playoff at the Transitions Championship. Then, after leading the U.S.Open for 69 holes, he snap-hooked his drive at the 16th hole in the final round and lost that tournament. Next, he double-bogeyed the 72nd hole of the Bridgestone Invitational to lose to fellow Ryder Cupper Keegan Bradley.