Campbell, Piercy lead in Vegas

Campbell: winless since the 2007 Viking Classic

The golf course has been kind of a quiet retreat from everything that I can just kind of punk up and down the fairway and take my time doing nothing.

Scott Piercy
Quotes of the week

Third round leaderboard
US unless stated
C Campbell -17
S Piercy -17
M Laird (Sco) -16
J Bohn -15
J Klauk -15
B Heintz -15
G McNeill -15

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Chad Campbell and Scott Piercy are tied for the lead at 17-under-par heading into the final round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

Campbell followed up his 62 on Friday with a four-under third round of 67 to maintain his push for a first win in two years.

The Texan was going well with three birdies and an eagle at the par-four 12th to go with 11 pars in his first 15 holes.

But he ran up a double-bogey seven on the 16th and only joined Piercy at the head of the leaderboard with a birdie at the last.

"I started off a little slow, making some pars," said Campbell. "I was able to make eagle there on 12 which kind of got things going and then birdied 13, birdied 15."

Local boy Piercy signed for a 65 after rolling in seven birdies to go with his solitary bogey of the day at the sixth.

And if the 30-year-old goes on to claim his maiden PGA Tour title on Sunday it will be a double celebration as his wife, Sara, gave birth to the couple's third son on Thursday.

Emotional

"It's definitely been a rollercoaster," Piercy said. "I think early in the week it was the anticipation of having the baby. And I think emotionally that wears you down.

"Yesterday, I really felt like emotionally drained. I had nothing in the tank.

"The golf course has been kind of a quiet retreat from everything that I can just kind of punk up and down the fairway and take my time doing nothing."

The leading duo are only just ahead of the chasing pack, however, with Scotland's Martin Laird one shot back on 16 under after a third-round 67.

George McNeill (63), Jason Bohn (65), Jeff Klauk (66) and Bob Heintz (68) are locked in a tie for fourth on 15 under.

But Troy Matteson, the joint leader after both the first and second rounds, saw his challenge fade as he carded a one-under 70 to slip back to 14 under.