LAS VEGAS (Nevada), Oct 11: Steve Flesch and Scott Verplank both struck six-under-par 66s to remain tied for the lead after the third round of the $4 million Las Vegas Invitational on Friday.

Flesch, who has held a share of the lead at the end of all three days, and Verplank, who joined him at the top of the leaderboard on Thursday, were on 23-under 192.

Australian Stuart Appleby, who has finished second in each of his last two tournaments, fired a nine-under 63 to move into third place on 193. Tim Herron, Scott McCarron and Woody Austin were tied for fourth on 195 in this 90-hole event.

Bill Glasson, Jerry Kelly, Tim Petrovic, Craig Barlow, former U.S. PGA champion Mark Brooks and Australia’s Robert Allenby were tied for seventh on 197.

Among those who missed the cut, which came at nine-under, were Spain’s Sergio Garcia (eight-under), Bob Tway (five-under) and Tommy Armour III (one-over).

Third round scores

23-under: Steve Flesch 62 64 66, Scott Verplank 64 62 66

22-under: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 62 68 63

20-under: Tim Herron 67 62 66, Scott McCarron 69 62 64, Woody Austin 65 65 65

18-under: Bill Glasson 67 67 63, Jerry Kelly 65 67 65, Tim Petrovic 64 67 66, Craig Barlow 62 67 68, Robert Allenby (Australia) 66 66 65, Mark Brooks 68 65 64

17-under: Charles Howell III 63 65 70, Bob Burns 64 67 67

16-under: Jim Furyk 65 67 67, Steve Lowery 65 64 67, John Senden (Australia) 63 67 69, Richard Johnson (Sweden) 66 65 68

15-under: Paul Goydos 67 65 68, Mark Wilson 64 68 68, Kent Jones 69 65 66, Mike Heinen 67 68 65, Phil Mickelson 67 64 69.—Reuters