Aaron Baddeley plundered the front nine and held on coming home to take a two-stroke lead over Ernie Els after the third round of the Sony Open in Honolulu.
Baddeley, a 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie in his first event as a Tour member, had three birdies and an eagle before parring every hole on the inward half in a five-under-par 65 in demanding, breezy conditions at Waialae Country Club.
"I hit a lot of good shots on the front nine," said the Australian, who was at 15-under on 195 with one round left.
Baddeley led by five strokes at the turn, but Els finished strongly with three birdies in the final five holes to shoot 66 and cut the gap to two.
Americans Robert Gamez (65), Briny Baird (67) and Chris DiMarco (69) are tied for third, five strokes behind.
"It's going to be exciting, my first time leading a PGA Tour event and playing with the second-best player in the world," Baddeley added.
South African Retief Goosen, who shared the halfway lead with Baddeley, triple-bogeyed the first hole after pushing his drive into an unplayable lie.
He finished with a 72 to fall seven shots off the pace.
PA