US tour: Shigeki Maruyama recorded a hole-in-one on the way to a two-under-par 68 which gave him a one-shot lead over American Brett Quigley after the third round of the $4.8 million Sony Open.
The overnight leader by a single stroke, the Japanese player's advantage disappeared with a double bogey on the first hole at the Waialae Country Club in Hawaii.
Maruyama hit back by using a six-iron to ace the par-three fourth and he also birdied the ninth, 14th and 18th to finish with a 10-under total of 200.
"I don't usually play this well at the start of the year," Maruyama said. "This is an unexpected chance."
Quigley, who was in a four-way tie for the lead after the opening round, would have moved alongside Maruyama but for a bogey at the 15th. He carded a 68.
Paul Azinger, looking for his first win since his victory here in 2000, moved into third place after a three-under 67 for 202.
"I knew I was going to be better this year," said Azinger, who battled nagging hip and back injuries for much of last season.
"I would like to do it (win) but if not, it's not my time." Three strokes off the pace on 203, seven under, were Larry Mize and Robert Gamez. Charles Howell III and world number one Vijay Singh were a further shot back.
Mize and Howell carded the best rounds of the day, rocketing up the leaderboard with six-under 64s.
Singh, the winner of nine events and more than $10 million in prize money last year, began the day five strokes off the lead but battled back into contention with a three-under 67.
After collecting four birdies in the first 10 holes, the Fijian dropped his first shot at the 16th.
"The wind was a little less today than it was the first two days," said Singh , who led after 54 holes of last week's Mercedes Championships before falling away in the final round.
"I played pretty well today but felt I left a lot out there."
South Africa's Ernie Els, trying to become the first player to claim three wins in a row in this event, carded an even-par 70 for 208.
Justin Rose tumbled into a tie for eighth place, five shots behind Maruyama, after a disappointing two-over-par 72.
A sole birdie, at the par-five 18th, and dropped shots at the 6th, 13th and short 17th saw Rose slip down the leaderboard.
LEADING THIRD ROUND SCORES (USA unless stated, par 70): 200 - S Maruyama (Jpn) 67 65 68 201 - B Quigley 66 67 68 202 - P Azinger 67 68 67 203 - R Gamez 69 66 68, L Mize 70 69 64 204 - C Howell III 70 70 64, V Singh (Fij) 69 68 67 205 - J Rose (Eng) 67 66 72, T Lehman 67 68 70, A Scott (Aus) 71 65 69, B Bryant 70 69 66 206 - S Micheel 70 68 68, A Magee 67 68 71, J Maggert 70 68 68, L Donald (Eng) 74 67 65 207 - D Toms 71 68 68, D Mast 74 64 69, PPerez 71 70 66, S Cink 66 69 72, J Allred 69 68 70, C Stadler 71 69 67, T Armour III 69 71 67
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