Donald and Mayfair move to the fore

England’s Luke Donald and American Billy Mayfair are tied for the lead after the third round of the Honda Classic.

Donald shot a four-under-par 68 and Mayfair battled to an even-par 72 to get to nine-under 207.

American Jeff Gove carded a 69 and is a shot back at eight under. Swede Daniel Chopra and Australian World Match Play champion Geoff Ogilvy each signed for 71s and are at seven-under 209.

Irishman and defending champion Padraig Harrington carded just two birdies and had back-to-back double-bogeys at the seventh and eighth en route to a 74. He is tied for 11th at four under.

Donald fired five birdies with one bogey. The solid showing put the Englishman in position for his second PGA victory. His only win to date came at the 2002 Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

"I felt like it was my best day out of the three," Donald said. "So I am encouraged about that. I felt like I hit it very solidly. I did not really have many mistakes."

"It was a lot of good driving, a lot of good iron play. I holed a few putts. Overall, I feel very good about my game."

In search of his second victory of the season, David Toms took a one-shot lead into the third round but stumbled to a 76 to drop to six under.

The highest-ranked golfer in the field at number eight, Toms struggled on the Sunrise Course at Mirasol, firing seven bogeys including four on his final six holes.

Mayfair was a shot back of Toms to start the round and eagled the par-five 17th to grab a share of the lead.

"I feel like I am hitting the ball good," Mayfair said. "I am chipping good and I am really looking forward to the fourth round."