NEW ORLEANS, April 30: Unheralded American Chris Couch defied gusting winds to take charge at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Saturday while Phil Mickelson climbed into contention.

Journeyman Couch, who has made just two cuts in nine starts on the 2006 PGA Tour, fired an eight-under-par 64 to forge one shot clear in the third round.

The 32-year-old reeled off nine birdies at a blustery English Turn Golf & Country Club before dropping his only shot at the par-four last, finishing at 12-under 204.

Overnight leader Joe Durant battled back from six bogeys in the first 10 holes to card a 73, a curling 20-footer for birdie at the last earning him a tie for second with fellow American Charles Howell III (66).

Leading third roun scores:

204 -- Chris Couch (US) 70, 70, 64.

205 -- Charles Howell III (US) 70, 69, 66; Joe Durant (US) 68, 64, 73.

206 -- Dean Wilson (US) 68, 72, 66; Cameron Beckman (US) 67, 72, 67.

207 -- Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 69, 70, 68; Phil Mickelson (US) 68, 71, 68; Tim Herron (US) 67, 71, 69; Matt Hansen (US) 71, 66, 70; Ian Poulter (Britain) 67, 68, 72; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 68, 67, 72; Brett Wetterich (US) 69, 65, 73.

208 --Tommy Armour III (US) 66, 73, 69; Fred Funk (US) 70, 69, 69; J.L. Lewis (US) 70, 69, 69; Nick Watney (US) 66, 72, 70; Brian Bateman (US) 70, 67, 71; J.P. Hayes (US) 68, 69, 71; David Toms (US) 69, 67, 72; Glen Day (US) 68, 68, 72.

VICTORY FOR FASTH

SAN ROQUE (Spain): Sweden's Niclas Fasth took the Spanish Open title on Sunday after a sudden-death playoff with Briton John Bickerton.

Fasth holed a five-foot birdie putt at the fourth extra hole after both players had finished on 18-under-par 270, a stroke ahead of the field.

While Bickerton equalled the San Roque New course record with a closing 63 to earn his second chance, Fasth bogeyed the final two holes to throw the tournament into the playoff.

Leading final round scores:

270 -- Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 67, 68, 66, 69; John Bickerton (Britain) 68, 65, 74, 63.

271 -- Philip Archer (Britain) 67, 69, 68, 67; Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 70, 64, 68, 69; Mattias Eliasson (Sweden) 68, 68, 68, 67; David Griffiths (Britain) 68, 65, 66, 72; Jose Manuel Lara (Spain) 68, 66, 69, 68; Gary Orr (Britain) 72, 64, 68, 67.

272 -- Carl Suneson (Spain) 69, 64, 70, 69.

273 -- Robert Karlsson (Sweden) 70, 63, 68, 72.

274 -- Peter Hanson (Sweden) 67, 69, 68, 70; Juan Parron (Spain) 66, 72, 70, 66; Miles Tunnicliff (Britain) 66, 71, 69, 68.

275 -- Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 70, 65, 69, 71; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 68, 70, 71, 66.

SUK WINS MAEKYUNG OPEN

SEOUL: South Korea's Suk Jong-ryul scored a final-hole birdie to win the Maekyung Open on Sunday in his maiden Asian Tour triumph.

The 38-year-old Suk fired a flawless five-under-par 67 in the final round to beat American Bryan Saltus, who also closed with a 67 but lost by one stroke in the tournament overall.

Suk amassed a four-day total of 17-under-par 271 and carded five birdies with no bogeys.

Leading final round scores:

271 -- Suk Jong-ryul (South Korea) 67, 69, 68, 67.

272 -- Bryan Saltus (US) 69, 68, 68, 67.

274 -- Noh Seung-yul (South Korea) 69, 69, 70, 66; Amandeep Johl (India) 69, 69, 70, 66; Lee Sung (South Korea) 67, 66, 69, 72.

275 -- Kim Dae-sub (South Korea) 68, 70, 68, 69.

276 -- Scott Hend (Australia) 70, 72, 67, 67; Park Boo-won (South Korea) 70, 71, 68, 67.

277 -- Scott Barr (Australia) 68, 73, 71, 65; Shin Yong-jin (South Korea) 70, 68, 71, 68; Charlie Wi (South Korea) 69, 70, 70, 68.—Agencies