Marc Leishman is set to battle South African-born rookie Aaron Wise as he hunts a fourth US PGA Tour title after gusting winds failed to knock him off his stride at the Byron Nelson tournament in Texas.
The 34-year-old Australian remained on track for a wire-to-wire victory as he posted a two-under 69 third round to get to 17-under 196 while 21-year-old Wise caught him with a 68.
Aaron Wise and Marc Leishman sit at the top of the leaderboard.
Photo: AP
The pair are four shots clear of Australia's Matt Jones (68) and American Kevin Na (69).
Winds of up to 40km/h that swept the link-style Trinity Forest course were not unfamiliar to the Australians, with Leishman notching only one bogey.
A two-time tour winner in 2017, Leishman is ranked No.16 in the world.
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But he has plenty of respect for the challenge from Wise, who finished tied second behind Jason Day at the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks ago.
In 2016 Wise was the first player in eight years to win both the NCAA's individual and team titles, with Oregon.
"He's a solid player. I heard this morning he's only 21. I didn't realise that," said Leishman, who opened the tournament with a career-best 61.
"I guess I was in high school before he was born. You hear guys talk about that all the time but I've never said that, I think."
Wise said the difference with strong wind on the course co-designed by Ben Crenshaw showed up quickly when his tee shot on the par-three second hole ended up 30 yards right of his target.
For Leishman, it was the long ninth hole when he hit a three-wood to try to land short of a fairway bunker 340 yards away but "went straight in it".
"That's a bit of getting used to," he said.
"Normally I can't hit my driver anywhere close to that."
Adam Scott carded a 72 to slip back to nine under and tied for 19th while fellow Australian Geoff Ogilvy (70) was seven under, along with hometown star Jordan Spieth who shot an even par 71.
Cameron Percy slid down the field with a 75 to be at two under with Rod Pampling (73) while Robert Allenby (75) is at one under.
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