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Australian Stuart Appleby remained ahead of the field at the Houston Open on Saturday surging three shots clear midway through the third round.
Appleby, who began the day with a one stroke lead over Briton Greg Owen, mixed three birdies with only his second bogey of the tournament on his outward nine to move to 13-under heading into the turn at the Redstone Golf Club.
American Brett Wetterich had a blistering front nine on the Tournament Course carding five birdies, including four straight from the second, to leave him five-under on the day with nine to play and 10-under for the tournament.
Compatriot Paul Goydos and Swede Mathias Gronberg are at nine-under for the tournament with holes still to play.
Owen, who shot a course record seven-under 65 to rocket into contention on Friday, was unable to match that effort, stumbling to four-over through nine.
The Briton got his day off to a positive start with a birdie at the first but quickly gave the stroke back with a bogey at the second followed by back-to-back double bogeys at five and six to fall seven shots off the pace.
Vijay Singh's hopes of a third consecutive Houston title were also fading, the world number three mixing four bogeys and a double bogey with four birdies to sit two-over on the day with four holes to play.
Sitting 11 shots behind the leader, the hard working Fijian will have to produce a spectacular finish to claim his fourth Houston crown in five years.
Portrush’s Graeme McDowell and Dublin's Padraig Harrington are 11 shots off the front, both having shot 69 today to finish three under par.
