Golf: Brandt Snedeker will hope he can make it third time lucky after moving into a share of the lead at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, while Pádraig Harrington lies seven shots off the lead on one under after a 71. The Dubliner is a stroke better off than US Open champion Webb Simpson.

Snedeker has finished runner-up to Tiger Woods in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines and to Phil Mickelson at the Phoenix Open in the last two weeks, but he cruised to joint top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage in California.

A bogey-free four-under-par 68 at the Spyglass Hills course moved the American to eight under overall, alongside compatriot Ted Potter.

“I take nothing but positives away from the way I’ve played the weekend the last couple events,” Snedeker told the PGA Tour’s official website. “I know I’ll have a lot of fun this weekend, so just try to recreate that. That’s how you win out here; you keep putting yourself in position and the more times you do that the more success you’re going to have.”

A bogey at the last prevented Potter from taking an outright lead. The second-year PGA Tour player got off to the perfect start when, starting on the back nine, he needed just three shots to complete the par-five 10th on the Monterey Peninsula course.

Potter had handed those shots back at the turn before a run of four birdies in six holes on the front nine catapulted him back up the leaderboard although a bogey at his last hole of the day meant he returned a second successive 67.

Hunter Mahan, who was tied for the lead overnight, is a shot further behind on seven under after a round of 69 at the Monterey Peninsula course. A double bogey on the par three seventh moved the American back to four under overall, but the two-time Ryder Cup player responded strongly with back-to-back birdies before picking up another shot at the 15th.

Compatriots John Merrick (Monterey Peninsula) and Patrick Reed (Pebble Beach) are also in a tie for third, as is Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson (Pebble Beach).

World number eight Lee Westwood went round the Monterey Peninsula course in level par to remain on four under overall, while defending champion Mickelson, looking to win successive tournaments for the third time in his career, is two shots back after a 71 at Spyglass Hill.

There is just one more round to go before the golfers have played all three courses.