Las Vegas - JJ Spaun, seeking his first US PGA title, clung to a share of the lead with Beau Hossler after Saturday's wind-plagued third round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Battling swirling and gusting breezes all day, Spaun struggled to a two-over par 73 but stayed level with US compatriot Hossler atop the scoreboard on nine-under par 204 after 54 holes at Summerlin in Las Vegas.
Spaun, who missed the cut in last year's event, led at the halfway mark for the first time in 34 career US PGA events. His first-ever lead after any round came last week, when he finished level 34th at the Sanderson Farms Championship.
Spaun opened with three bogeys in the first five holes to stumble back within reach of the field. But Spaun kept his lead and stretched it to two shots by starting the back nine with his first birdie of the round from 16 feet.
After adding another birdie from six feet at the par-5 13th to reach 10-under, Spaun missed the green on the par-3 17th and made bogey, falling into a share of the lead.
But at the par-4 18th, Spaun sank a clutch 10-foot par putt to keep his share of the lead entering the final round.
Hossler, also seeking his first PGA title, managed a bogey-free 66, his longest birdie putt a 52-footer from off the green at the par-4 seventh. He closed the front nine with a tap-in birdie and the back nine with a 30-footer to claim the low round of the day.
American Tony Finau was third on 207 after his third 69 in a row with US rivals Tom Hoge, Gary Woodland, Patrick Cantlay and Chesson Hadley all sharing fourth on 208.
Scores after Saturday's completion of the third round of the US PGA Shriners Hospitals for Children Open (par-71, USA unless noted):
204 - Beau Hossler 69-69-66, JJ Spaun 66-65-73
207 - Tony Finau 69-69-69
208 - Tom Hoge 68-73-67, Gary Woodland 73-67-68, Chesson Hadley 74-65-69, Patrick Cantlay 67-71-70
209 - Troy Merritt 70-69-70, Whee Kim (KOR) 65-72-72
210 - William McGirt 68-73-69, Brian Stuard 70-71-69, JT Poston 69-71-70, John Huh 66-73-71, Bryson DeChambeau 67-72-71, Charley Hoffman 68-71-71, Kevin Tway 68-71-71, Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 70-66-74
211 - AJ McInerney 71-70-70, Luke List 71-70-70, An Byeong Hun (KOR) 72-70-69, Ryan Moore 69-71-71, Ernie Els (RSA) 69-71-71, Trey Mullinax 73-69-69, Seamus Power (IRE) 69-71-71, Scott Stallings 73-70-68, Brandon Harkins 68-70-73, Kelly Kraft 67-65-79