SAVOY – Joe Thompson was able to duck Saturday's bad weather and shoot a solid round of golf at the same time.

Thompson leads the UI Club Championship heading into today's final round after a 1-under-par 71 on the Blue Course.

"We all got our rounds over with before the storm hit," Thompson said. "I don't think the course will be in that bad of shape. There might be some water in the sand traps, but things shouldn't be in terrible shape. We'll be able to get the round in."

Thompson, a four-time UI club champion, got off to slow start, but birdied five of the final seven holes to take a 2-stroke lead over Mike Kelley. Dave Summitt is 3 shots off the pace.

"I didn't start off well at all," Thompson said. "I made bogey on the first hole, and then I had seven or eight chances at birdie on the front side and didn't make any of them."

John Franklin leads the senior division after a first-round 74. Dianna Jackson's 89 leads the women.