Graeme McDowell got himself within touching distance of Billy Andrade's lead going into the final round of the Barclays Classic but defending champion Padraig Harrington is too far off the pace to challenge.

American Andrade, ranked a lowly 206th in the world, takes a one-stroke lead on eight under into the final round at Westchester Golf Club in New York after a third round 69. His closest pursuers are Fiji's Vijay Singh (72) and Australia's Adam Scott (69) who share second.

Singh had shared the overnight lead with England's David Howell but the Ryder Cup player slipped back into a tie for fourth on six under - alongside Swede Fredrik Jacobson (72) and American Brett Quigley (70) - with a disappointing two over 73.
 
With a number of Europeans still in contention the most remarkable feat was that of Ian Poulter.
Having survived the halfway cut by the skin of his teeth, Poulter will begin the final round just three off the lead following a best-of-the-day 65 which included four birdies in his last five holes.

McDowell's level par 71 in difficult conditions leaves the Portrush pro in a tie for 10th on four under as he attempts to claim his first win on the US Tour. The 26-year-old's best finish on American soil was the second place finish at last year's Bay Hill Invitational.

In all, 21 players are separated by a mere five strokes in this final warm-up event for next week's US Open at Winged Foot, also in New York.

Although Harrington rallied well for a 66 in the second round to make sure he made the cut, a third round 75, one worse than his opening round, undid all the good work. And at two over and 10 shots off the pace the Dubliner is surely too far back to contend.