Atwal takes 3-shot lead

He is three shots clear of second-placed American Webb Simpson, who shot a 70 in the third round.

The Indian, who is aiming to regain his PGA Tour card with a top-25 finish in the Nationwide money list, was in sensational touch for the third in a row and reeled off four birdies in the opening six holes to make the turn four-under.

A bogey on the 12th was the lone blot on his back nine which Atwal rounded off with three birdies between the 14th and 18th holes.

8220;Seventeen was a tough hole today,8221; said Atwal, who hit 17 greens in regulation.

8220;Webb tried to hold his shot up in the wind. It caught the trap left. It8217;s dead in there and he didn8217;t get it up and down. I hit mine to 10 feet and made it and that was the turning point,8221; he added.

Atwal closed his day with a tap-in birdie after a brilliant shot from the greenside bunker while Simpson two-putted for par from 50 feet. Simpson stumbled to five bogeys on Saturday compared to just one dropped stroke in the first 36 holes.