HONOLULU, January 15, 2012 (AFP) - Matt Every birdied the last hole to shoot a two-under par 68 on Saturday and maintain a share of the lead after the third round of the PGA Sony Open.
Every, who led by two strokes after the second round, is tied atop the leaderboard with Jeff Maggert, who sizzled to a six-under 64 to reach 12-under 198.
"It's not like it's me versus Jeff Maggert," Every said. "There's a ton of guys who could win this golf tournament."
Every is seeking his first US PGA title while the 47-year old Maggert hasn't won since 2006.
D.A. Points also shot a 64 and tied Maggert for the lowest score of the third round.
Maggert missed much of last season after undergoing right shoulder surgery.
"I don't think I've ever played with him other than maybe seeing him hit a few balls on the range," Maggert said of Every.
"That's part of the dilemma I'm in being I'm 47 -- the kids coming out, I don't know much about them. Obviously he's a good player.
"But I can't really say that I know a lot about his game. But obviously he's a good player or he wouldn't be out here."
There were three players within two shots of the co-leaders and 16 within four shots, including American Steve Stricker.
Stricker, who turns 45 next month, is seeking to become the first player since Ernie Els in 2003 to sweep the Hawaii tournaments.
Johnson Wagner and Charles Howell both shot 66. They were tied with Brendon de Jonge (67) at 10-under.
De Jonge shot the low round of the tournament so far with a 62 in the second round.
"It's nice to play badly and put a score on it," de Jonge said of his third round 67.
Duffy Waldorf (66) and D.A. Points (64) are tied for sixth at nine-under 201. Stricker was tied for eighth at eight under after a 67.
Leading third-round scores on Saturday in the US PGA Tour's $5.5 million Sony Open (USA unless noted, par-70):
198 - Matt Every 66-64-68, Jeff Maggert 69-65-64
200 - Charles Howell 67-67-66, Johnson Wagner 68-66-66, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 71-62-67
201 - D.A. Points 68-69-64, Duffy Waldorf 69-66-66
202 - Stephen Ames (CAN) 67-68-67, Bae Sang-Moon (KOR) 68-68-66, Keegan Bradley 67-67-68, Harrison Frazar 67-68-67, David Hearn (CAN) 66-66-70, Spencer Levin 67-67-68, Sean O'Hair 67-67-68, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 65-67-70, Scott Piercy 69-68-65, Ted Potter 68-68-66, Steve Stricker 66-69-67
203 - Kris Blanks 68-66-69, Graham DeLaet (CAN) 63-72-68, Ken Duke 66-69-68, Brian Gay 69-69-65, Doug LaBelle 66-67-70, Billy Mayfair 68-67-68, John Senden (AUS) 68-67-68, Chris Stroud 68-68-67, Michael Thompson 70-65-68