• Farmers Insurance Open, Round Three

Stanley builds cushion in search of maiden win

Kyle Stanley acknowledges the crowd after another birdie © Getty Images

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American Kyle Stanley will take a five-shot lead into the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open, as he looks for his first victory on the PGA Tour.

Stanley, who finished second in the John Deere Classic last season, recorded his second successive round of 68 at Torrey Pines to open a gap between himself and the rest of the field at 18-under.

He missed a four-foot birdie putt at the last that would have seen him claim the 54-hole scoring record at the tournament, but had to settle for a share of the mark previously owned solely by Tiger Woods.

It was a striking performance from Stanley, as he gradually built his score before a bogey at the 12th threatened to derail his progress. But he bounced back with two birdies over his closing six holes to give himself a healthy cushion over John Huh and John Rollins - who will be hoping to chase him down on Sunday.

The two Johns both sit 13-under for the tournament after matching rounds of 68, while defending FedEx Cup champion Bill Haas and South Korean Sang-Moon Bae are a shot further back at 12-under after rounds of 70 and 72 respectively.

Brandt Snedeker is 11-under after a disappointing third round of 74, a shot ahead of former Open champion Justin Leonard and two clear of rising Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa.

Hopes of an English victory appear to be slim, with Justin Rose the best placed at seven-under. Greg Owen and Gary Christian are struggling among the lower reaches of those who made the cut, after both managed 71s on Saturday.

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