Laird maintains lead in Las Vegas

Golf: Scotland's Martin Laird moved into pole position to defend his title at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children…

Golf:Scotland's Martin Laird moved into pole position to defend his title at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas with an eight-under third round total of 63.

The 27-year-old from Glasgow already had six birdies to his name when he managed an eagle two at the 15th with a tee shot which landed eight feet from the pin. That helped him to reach 19 under par for the tournament at a TPC Summerlin course he clearly loves.

Last year that was low enough for victory, but he still has a lot to do with American Jonathan Byrd just one shot off the pace and Australian Cameron Percy and American Webb Simpson two shots back.

Percy's tally of nine-under 62 was the best of the day, while England's Brian Davis shot a two-under round of 69 which leaves him at seven under overall in a tie for 53rd place.

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Collated third round scores & totals
(USA unless stated, par 71):

194Martin Laird (Sco) 69 62 63

195Jonathan Byrd 66 63 66

196Cameron Percy (Aus) 66 68 62, Webb Simpson 66 66 64

198Spencer Levin 69 63 66, Cameron Beckman 67 67 64

199Nick Watney 66 66 67, Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 67 68 64, John Senden (Aus) 64 67 68, Ryan Palmer 65 68 66

200Ryuji Imada (Jpn) 68 62 70, Rickie Fowler 68 64 68, Nicholas Thompson 65 66 69, Cameron Tringale 64 68 68, Mark Wilson 67 67 66

201George McNeill 65 66 70, Kevin Sutherland 69 65 67, David Duval 70 64 67, Michael Connell 69 65 67, Alex Prugh 67 64 70

202Pat Perez 68 69 65, Andres Romero (Arg) 67 69 66, Greg Kraft 68 66 68, Graham Delaet (Can) 69 63 70, Charles Howell III 66 68 68

203Michael Letzig 64 68 71, Kris Blanks 66 70 67, Martin Flores 65 69 69, Robert Garrigus 64 71 68, Davis Love III 66 68 69, Scott Piercy 68 68 67, James Driscoll 66 69 68, Kevin Na 67 67 69, Will MacKenzie 64 70 69, Bob Estes 66 69 68, Richard S Johnson (Swe) 68 66 69

204Greg Chalmers (Aus) 70 64 70, D.A. Points 69 67 68, Chris Tidland 68 67 69, Kevin Stadler 67 68 69, Chad Campbell 68 64 72, Mathew Goggin (Aus) 69 69 66, Marc Turnesa 68 67 69, Josh Teater 68 69 67

205Charles Warren 68 68 69, Brian Stuard 71 67 67, Chris Stroud 68 68 69, James Nitties (Aus) 68 65 72, Chris Wilson 66 69 70, Dean Wilson 70 66 69, Brett Quigley 68 68 69, Troy Merritt 67 69 69

206Brent Delahoussaye 69 66 71, Brian Davis (Eng) 67 70 69, Jerry Kelly 69 69 68, John Merrick 66 69 71, Tim Petrovic 66 70 70, Woody Austin 68 70 68

207Ricky Barnes 69 65 73, Scott McCarron 68 65 74, Paul Goydos 68 69 70, Brian Gay 69 68 70, Roland Thatcher 71 67 69, J.P. Hayes 69 68 70

208Hunter Mahan 67 68 73, John Daly 66 70 72, Chris Riley 68 67 73, Vaughn Taylor 65 68 75

209Garrett Willis 67 69 73, Brenden Pappas (Rsa) 69 68 72, Briny Baird 68 70 71

211Chris DiMarco 67 70 74

212Nathan Green (Aus) 69 69 74, Warren Schutte 69 69 74

215Arjun Atwal (Ind) 70 68 77