Graeme McDowell remains in contention at the OHL Classic at the El Camaleon Golf Club in Playa del Carmen in Mexico, despite surrendering the lead in a frustratingly mixed third round.

McDowell went into the third round as the halfway leader following an eight-under-par 63 on Friday, however Saturday could scarcely have started in a more momentum halting fashion, as he carded a double-bogey on the first and followed it with a bogey on the par-4 second hole.

The Northern Irishman steadied quickly and recovered nicely with four birdies over a seven-hole stretch before bogeying the par-five 13th.

The 2010 U.S. Open champion then birdied his penultimate hole to put himself three shots off the lead but still in contention for his first PGA Tour win since 2013.

McDowell (70) joins a group of four players, including former British Open champion Justin Leonard (67), sitting three strokes off the lead.

American journeyman Derek Fathauer played flawless golf to grab the first 54-hole lead of his PGA Tour career.

The 29-year-old carded a bogey-free, five-under 66 to move one shot ahead of compatriot Jason Bohn (65).

Fathauer, trying to become the sixth consecutive first-time winner on the PGA Tour, birdied the third, fifth, seventh and ninth holes to reach the turn with a two-stroke lead.

He then reached five-under for the day after a birdie at the par-five 13th.

Bohn was cruising along with four birdies on his front nine and then followed a birdie at the 12th with an eagle at the par-five 13th before a lightning delay halted play for about 90 minutes.

He would have had a share of the lead going into the final round if not for a bogey at the 18th. (Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Tony Jimenez)