Joe Carr fired his second sub-par round of the week but at the end of yesterday's third round his lead had dwindled to one as the Belmont Invitation turned into virtually a two-horse race.

While Carr carded a one-under-par 69, his fellow New England pro Fran Marrello went one better with a 68, and though third-placed Tim Conley, the defending champion, shot his second successive 69, he's now got six shots to make up on Carr as the tournament enters its final day.

Carr stands on 205, Marrello 206 and Conley 211.

Yesterday's best round belonged to another American, Tom Sullivan, who returned a three-under 67 to move into fourth on 212, and Bermudian two-handicapper Barry DeCouto led the local charge as he went round in an impressive 69, leapfrogging over top local amateur Scott Mayne and all of the local pros.

But the focus remains fixed on Carr and Marrello, who between them should now decide this year's title.

A two-time winner and senior champion for four successive years, Carr has led from the first day after a blistering 65. But while there was nothing shabby about his round yesterday, he would have probably preferred a more comfortable cushion entering the final day.

"It could have been better, but I can't really complain,'' said Carr afterwards. "I made a couple of nice putts, I birdied seven and 14.

"But it's going to be interesting tomorrow. Fran's a real good player. Not spectacular, but real steady. He hits everything down the middle.

"If I can shoot under par again, then they've got to come and get me.

"It would give me an awful lot of pleasure to win this tournament again. I said to my brother, John, when we came in last week I thought I was playing real well, and I could win.

"I'm probably not playing as well I thought I would, but I still think I can win.'' Marrello, from the Heritage Village club in Southberry, Connecticut, has finished in the top five all four years he's competed in the Invitation. But he's now presented with his best chance of lifting the title for a first time.

"I'd certainly like to,'' he said last night. "But I'll just go out tomorrow and play my normal game and see what happens.

"There's a few holes on this course that can come up and grab you. I play conservatively by nature, and I think that's the way to approach this course.

"You can't overpower it, it's too tricky.'' Marrello's 68 yesterday, which matched his first day score, included a birdie blitz through nine, 10 and 11, having earlier bogeyed the par three fourth.

Meanwhile, former Cup Match cricketer DeCouto put himself in position to win this year's amateur title with his first sub-par round of the week, on a day when Mayne returned a one-over 71.

But while DeCouto admitted he'd welcome the amateur trophy, he noted his intention had always been to win the tournament outright.

"I came into the Belmont believing I could win,'' he said yesterday. "If you seriously want to win, you've got to be positive.

"I'm probably a bit too far back now (nine shots) to challenge, but I'm happy at the way I've played.

"I hit 15 greens in regulation on Monday and Tuesday, and 14 today. When you're doing that, there's always a chance of making birdie.'' Mayne, two shots back, would appear to be the only threat to DeCouto in the junior amateur division with Scotland's Ronnie Milton and Bermuda's Zane DeSilva a further 13 and 14 shots adrift respectively.

Eldon Raynor continues to lead the senior amateur division -- by five shots over Roger Harvey and Dave Wills -- despite his worst round so far yesterday, 84.

Today's final round will see the leaders, Carr, Marrello and Conley tee off at 12.28, preceded by Tom Sullivan, Paul Parajeckas and Bermuda's leading senior pro J.J.Madeiros.

JOE CARR -- Would probably prefer a more comfortable cushion entering today's final round.