HILTON HEAD ISLAND, April 20, 2014 (AFP) - Donald went into the round with a share of fourth place behind the leading trio of K.J. Choi, Jim Furyk and Ben Martin, who topped the leaderboard after the storm-disrupted second round was completed on Saturday morning.
Donald, who has two runner-up finishes and two third-place finishes in his past five starts in the $5.8 million event, had an eight-under total of 205 going into Sunday's final round.
"I've always liked this golf course," the 36-year-old Donald said. "I'm really happy with the way I'm striking the ball. I felt like I was going to give myself a lot of chances."
American John Huh carded his second straight 68 at Harbour Town Golf Links to move into second place on 207.
Donald gained some quick momentum with an eagle at the par-five second hole. He mixed two birdies with three bogeys on the front nine, but four birdies on his inward run saw him gain control.
"I've really played extremely well today," the former world number one said. "Hopefully, more of the same tomorrow. I think we're in for a very windy day tomorrow, so I'll need to control the ball even better."
Huh came into the week having missed the cut in three of his past four starts, but said he never felt his game was too far off.
"I've been playing really good," Huh said. "I just wasn't able to put everything together.
"I think this is the week that I've put everything together."
Former major champions Charl Schwartzel of South Africa and Furyk were in a group sharing third on 208. Schwartzel carded a 68 and Fury posted a 71. They were joined by Martin (71), and Nicholas Thompson (68).
Matt Kuchar, who shared the first-round lead, posted a third-round 70 to join a group on 209 that also included Russell Knox, Brian Harman, Matt Every and Brian Stuard.
South Korea's Choi, who had made it into the clubhouse on Friday on five-under 137 for his share of the halfway lead, settled for a third-round 74 that left him six-adrift on 211.
Scores after Saturday's third round of the $5.8 million US PGA Tour's Heritage (par 71, a-denotes amateur, USA unless noted):
205 - Luke Donald (ENG) 70-69-66
207 - John Huh 71-68-68
208 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-70-68, Nicholas Thompson 70-70-68, Jim Furyk (USA) 71-66-71, Ben Martin 69-68-71
209 - Russell Knox (SCO) 69-72-68, Brian Stuard 69-72-68, Brian Harman 69-71-69, Matt Kuchar 66-73-70, Matt Every 69-70-70
210 - Jason Kokrak 71-73-66, Richard H. Lee 70-69-71, Scott Brown 70-69-71, Ted Potter 70-69-71
211 - a-Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 71-71-69, Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 69-72-70, Robert Allenby (AUS) 69-72-70, Kevin Streelman 69-72-70, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 72-68-71, K.J. Choi (KOR) 70-67-74
212 - J.B. Holmes 72-71-69, Ken Duke 72-71-69, Charley Hoffman 73-71-68, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 71-69-72, Martin Kaymer (GER) 73-67-72, Ryo Ishikawa (JPN) 77-68-67, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 74-71-67, Kevin Stadler 71-69-72, Bo Van Pelt 69-70-73, Woody Austin 74-71-67, Chesson Hadley 72-67-73, Billy Hurley 70-69-73