MIDLOTHIAN -- Amateur Roger W. Newsom of Virginia Beach shot 5-under-par 67 for a two-shot lead entering today's final round of the 2008 SunTrust State Open of Virginia.

Newsom, a 44-year-old ophthalmologist, matched the best round of the day and is at 12-under 204 for the championship at Virginia at Independence Golf Club.

Chip Sullivan the director of golf at Ashley Plantation, posted a 3-under 69 and is two off the pace at 10-under 206.

Newsom started the day tied for the lead with Sullivan at 7 under. He birdied both par 5s on the outward half at Nos. 4 and 8, and sandwiched in another birdie at the par-4 sixth hole.

By the turn Newsom was 10 under for the event and two strokes ahead of Sullivan.

Newsom had consecutive bogeys at Nos. 15 and 16 to drop to 10 under, but he birdied the final two holes to take the lead into the final round.

Sullivan got birdies on both the 15th and 17 holes. However, he bogeyed 16 after missing an 8-footer for par.

"I have to stay patient," said Sullivan. "You don't want to shoot yourself in the foot. [Today] is the day that I have to let it all fly and I have to play my best golf."

Sullivan said it will not be easy running down the leader.

"Roger missed very few shots, if any," Sullivan said. "He played solid. I'm sure he could do quite well in the Middle Atlantic PGA [events] if he wanted to give up being a doctor."

Pearisburg's Hampton Ballard moved into the top 15, shooting a 70 to make his three-day total 213. David Schmidt of Wytheville shot a 72 and is tied for 18th.

Three-time tournament champion Keith Decker of Martinsville slipped to a 77 on Saturday and is 22 strokes behind the leader.