Justin Rose did everything he could to separate himself from a bunched-up field at the Canadian Open, but they just wouldn't let him get away.

The Englishman shot a 5-under 65 on Saturday and to take a one-shot lead over Bart Bryant, Trevor Immelman, Sean O'Hair and Jonathan Byrd heading to the final round.

Forty-three players started the day within five shots of first place on a crowded leaderboard that started to thin out during the third round. Rose was one stroke back of four players before pulling ahead early with birdies at the first three holes.

The field spent the rest of the day trying to catch up, with Bryant (64), Immelman (66), O'Hair (66) and Byrd (67) putting on the most spirited chase.

Rose first grabbed the spotlight at the 1998 British Open, when he finished tied for fourth as an amateur. He turned pro the next day and missed 21 straight cuts.

He's won four times around the world since, but is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory.

To get it, he'll have to outplay the four players right behind him along with world No. 3 Jim Furyk, who shot a 67 and was two strokes off the pace in a group with Steve Lowery (65) and Brett Quigley (67).

University student Victor Ciesielski (69) and David Hearn (71) of Brantford, Ont., were the top Canadians at 3-under for the tournament _ eight shots back. Canadian Amateur champion Richard Scott (70) and Ian Leggatt (68) of Cambridge, Ont., were another stroke behind them.

Ciesielski, of Cambridge, Ont., seems to have become the fan favourite here and drew the largest galleries on a grey day at Hamilton Golf and Country Club. The 21-year-old amateur will be in class at the University of Waterloo on Monday morning and is simply savouring the moment.

``This is new and it's kind of like my spotlight,'' he said. ``Who knows when it's going to come again? I'm really happy to be here and glad it's working out in my favour.''

The start of play was delayed by almost two hours because of rain and the soft course once again yielded some low scores.

Kevin Sutherland became the fourth player this week to equal the professional record at Hamilton with a 7-under 63 that vaulted him into a tie for 11th. He made a 20-foot birdie putt at the 18th hole on Friday to make the cut on the number and now finds himself in contention.

``I felt like if I could shoot a really good round today, I could get back into it,'' he said.

Immelman got close to Rose with an eagle on the par-5 17th. He hit a cut five-wood to five feet from 230 yards and made the putt.

He's in his first season on the PGA Tour and held off a charging Tiger Woods to win the Western Open in July. The South African has spent time on the European Tour and felt like he was on that side of the Atlantic on a chilly day.

``I felt like I was playing in Europe,'' he said. ``It was really cool and tough to judge the distances.''

It set up the potential for a dramatic final round with 20 players within five shots of Rose and a course that can be scored on.

More than a few players will go to bed thinking they have a chance to win.

``If you're within five shots, you've got a shot,'' said Sutherland. ``You've got to be breaking the course record, but you've got a shot.''

Notes: Defending champion Mark Calcavecchia shot a 4-under 66 and is tied for 24th ... The groups played in threesomes because of the rain delay.