• Bob Hope Classic, Round Three

Vegas and Woodland share lead in La Quinta

Matt Kuchar is back in the hunt after an impressive 67 on day three © Getty Images

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Leaderboard

Gary Woodland fired a blistering 64 at the Bob Hope Classic to join rookie Jhonattan Vegas at the top of the leaderboard, while Scotland's Martin Laird catapulted into contention with an eight-under round of his own.

The leaders are at 18-under after the third of five rounds in La Quinta, but Laird is hot on their heels at 16-under after he raced around the Private Palmer course with no bogeys, six birdies and an eagle at the par five No.11. Meanwhile, a dismal back nine all but ended England's Brian Davis's chances of winning the tournament.

Woodland started out red hot with five consecutive birdies starting on the second hole, and when his sole bogey arrived at the 11th, he responded with a further three birdies on the back nine. He and Vegas are a stroke ahead of Greg Chalmers, who shot a 65 to earn outright third.

Vegas continued to turn heads after a third-round 67, showing staying power most thought beyond him when he took an early tournament lead. Vegas, the first Venezuelan to play on the PGA Tour, drained five birdies during a solid 18 holes on the Silver Rock course. Three pars helped settle him down, before consecutive birdies brought colour to his card. After going out in 33, the 26-year-old picked up further shots at the 13th and par-four 15th and a bogey-free round of five-under leaves him in a great position heading into the weekend.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Davis, the Englishman capitulating on the back nine. Three back-to-back birdies helped him reach the turn in 33 but his problems started at the par-five 12th where he dropped a shot. Worse was to follow, as a triple-bogey six on the 17th left him with a mountain to climb, although a birdie at the last offered him faint hope as he shot a 71, leaving him six shots adrift of the leader.

Boo Weekley couldn't maintain his excellent form, struggling to find the consistency needed to post a score of any real note. A bogey at the par-five second appeared to unnerve the American and, despite boasting a driving accuracy of 93, 33 putts for the round tells its own story. A level-par 72 keeps him in the running, but only just.

Matt Kuchar showed his appetite for shooting low scores with a sparkling 67. Playing the PGA West course, the American started with real intent on the back nine. Three birdies on his opening seven holes put him on course for a tremendous score but a sloppy bogey threatened to halt his charge. A birdie on his ninth hole helped redress the balance, and he showed his class coming in with a couple more birdies to boot.

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