HOUSTON (Texas), April 6: Johnson Wagner, aiming for his first PGA Tour victory, shot a three-under-par 69 to take a one-stroke lead over fellow American Chad Campbell after the Houston Open third round on Saturday.

Wagner, ranked 313th in the world, finished with a 15-under total of 201 as he chased the first prize of $1 million and a win that would earn a spot at next week’s US Masters at Augusta.

Campbell, wielding a hot putter, was tied for the lead before a bogey at the par-four 17th prevented him registering a second successive 64. His 65 put him on 202 at the Redstone Golf Club.

Campbell birdied three of the first four holes and rolled in a 60-footer for birdie at the sixth. The 2003 Tour Championship winner added an eagle at the par-five eighth hole when he spun an 88-yard wedge shot back into the hole.

Americans Bob Estes, who fired a bogey-free 64, and Charley Hoffman (69) were tied for third on 204.

None of the top four have yet qualified for the Masters, the year’s first major.

Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, posted a 66 for 206 while fellow Australian Mathew Goggin carded a 72 for 207.

Thirty-six players returned early on Saturday to complete the second round which was suspended due to a long weather delay on Friday.

Holder Adam Scott of Australia, who complained of feeling ill earlier in the week, added a second-round 69 to his course-record opening 63 but withdrew before the third round because of fever and swollen glands.

American Davis Love III, who needs to win to qualify for the Masters and keep alive his streak of playing in 70 successive majors dating back to the 1990 British Open, was six under on 210.

Leading third-round scores:

201 – Johnson Wagner (US) 63, 69, 69.

202 – Chad Campbell (US) 73, 64, 65.

203 – Bob Estes (US) 71, 69, 64; Charley Hoffman (US) 65, 70, 69.

204 – Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 67, 73, 66.

205 – Mathew Goggin (Australia) 71, 64, 72.

208 – Lucas Glover (US) 69, 69, 70; Brett Quigley (US) 68, 72, 68; Steve Stricker (US) 66, 76, 66.

209 – Ryan Armour (US) 73, 69, 67; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 72, 72, 65; Bart Bryant (US) 69, 74, 66; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 74, 66, 69; Fred Couples (US) 73, 69, 67; Ben Crane (US) 74, 65, 70; Billy Mayfair (US) 72, 68, 69.

210 – Steve Elkington (Australia) 67, 74, 69; Rod Pampling (Australia) 70, 72, 68.

212 – Robert Allenby (Australia) 75, 68, 69; Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70, 70, 72; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 69, 70, 73.

213 – Jason Day (Australia) 73, 71, 69; Tim Wilkinson (New Zealand) 73, 69, 71.214 – Martin Laird (Britain) 69, 71, 74; Michael Sim (Australia) 72, 72, 70.215 – Kenneth Ferrie (Britain) 75, 69, 71; Anders Hansen (Denmark) 69, 71, 75; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 71, 73,

71; Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 73, 70, 72.—Reuters