• St Jude Classic, Round Three

Stefani leads, Mickelson on a charge

Phil Mickelson continued his improvement in form around TPC Southwind © Getty Images

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St Jude Classic leaderboard

Shawn Stefani takes an overnight lead into the final round of the FedEx St Jude Classic after finishing off his four-under par score of 66 in style to move to 12-under overall.

However, it could have been much better for the American if not for a disastrous quadruple bogey on the par-three eleventh which squandered his early work at TPC Southwind.

Sitting at four-under after his opening ten holes, Stefani found the water with his tee shot at 11 before overhitting his relief shot into the bunker rear of the green.

After failing to get out of the sand with his first attempt, Stefani finally found the dancefloor and two-putted which dropped him even-par for the day.

However, four birdies in his last five holes ensured that Stefani finished with the top score after three rounds in Memphis, one shot ahead of compatriot and overnight leader Harris English who settled for a one-under round of 69.

Fellow American Patrick Reed shot into contention following a six-under third round of 64, carding the best score of the day. The San Antonio-born youngster finished strongly with two birdies and an eagle in the last three holes and sits at eight-under with Nicholas Thompson and Scott Stallings.

Multiple major winner Phil Mickelson continued his upsurge in form throughout the tournament, carding a five-under 65 to stay in touch at seven-under.

'Lefty' started off with a bogey but soon found momentum with three birdies and an eagle in his next six holes. The 42-year-old cancelled out two bogeys with a further three birdies to move up the leaderboard.

Elsewhere, Padraig Harrington endured a mix bag in his five-under third round of 65. The Irishman only made par at seven holes, enjoying eight birdies and three bogeys to move well within a shout at six-under.

Ian Poulter was another to start with a bogey, but soon pulled back his chances with three birdies in six holes. Coming back to the clubhouse with an even-par 35 means the Englishman still has a faint sniff of climbing the leaderboard on the final day.

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