Justin Rose stayed within sight of the lead and will head into the final round of the Frys.com Open with the title in his sights.
A blemish-free 68 put the 35-year-old Englishman on 12 under par for the week, two shots behind leader Brendan Steele, who has topped the leaderboard after 18, 36 and now 54 holes at the Silverado course in Napa Valley, California.
Birdies at eight, nine, 16 and 17 saw Rose add another solid score, after opening with 67 on Thursday and adding 69 on Friday.
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The world number seven held his nerve after leaving himself a testing par putt of almost five foot at the last, and was in a share of fourth place with a group including American Jason Bohn, who jumped up the leaderboard with an eight-under 64.
US player Kyle Reifers and Argentinian Emiliano Grillo made seven-under 65s to join them, with Canadian Graham DeLaet and Americans Harold Varner III and Will Wilcox also tied on 12 under, well placed to strike on Sunday.
One better off on 13 under were Andrew Loupe and Kevin Na, who respectively made 63 and 64 on moving day.
Steele was not for moving. Determined to stay in the perfect position to strike for his second PGA Tour victory, and first since April 2011, he had a solid 69 to reach 14 under, finding sand off the tee at the long 18th but avoiding a dropped shot.
Indeed Steele parred his way home after a birdie at the 10th. He may need to shoot lower on Sunday to finish the job, but showed himself capable with a 63 on Thursday.
Scotland's Martin Laird dipped out of contention after a two-over 74 saw him slide from a share of sixth to a tie for 39th on six under, the same overall score as Northern Ireland's world number three Rory McIlroy whose 71 on Saturday was also out of keeping with the scoring trend, as a host of players went low.
Grillo almost hit Rory McIlroy, playing in the group ahead, with his approach to the 17th green. The 22-year-old South American was convinced McIlroy, playing with Adam Hadwin and Reifers, had left the green, so played his second shot that set up a birdie chance.
But the ball also almost struck the four-time major champion, who said it "missed me by a couple of inches".
McIlroy, not having the best of days, said: "Would have put me out of my misery. Die a little bit. To be honest with you.
"Not his fault. You can't see much from back there."
Asked about the incident, Grillo added: "Everybody agreed that they were going up from the green to the guy standing on the tee. We thought they were waiting for us to hit. I was first, and I kind of heard something that I almost hit him, but I really apologise.
"It was a bit of miscommunication over there. Hopefully he's all right and he continues to play well as always."
