Australian Matt Jones remains right in the hunt at the halfway point of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in California.
Jones finished the day as he started it, in equal second spot, after carding a two-under third round of 70 to take his overall score to 11-under and be two shots off leader Will Claxton (13-under).
The 31-year-old New South Welshman began on the back nine and the only blemish in his four-birdie round was a double-bogey at the par-five 5th hole.
Claxton continued to top the leaderboard at the TPC Stadium Course after a third-round 69 on Friday (local time).
Players who finish in the top 25 at the six-round tournament will earn PGA Tour cards for next year.
Claxton is also two shots clear of Bobby Gates and Noh Seung-Yul.
South Korean Noh was the big mover of the day at PGA West in La Quinta, carding an eight-under 64 to surge from a tie for 30th into a share of second.
The 20-year-old, winner of the European Tour's Malaysian Open last year, blitzed the TPC Stadium Course, shooting eight birdies - five of which came on the back nine.
Claxton carded two bogeys in his round and Gates managed a four-under 68.
American David Duval, the 2001 British Open winner, continues to struggle after reaching one-over at the halfway mark.
Of the other former major winners in the field, 2002 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem moved into a tie for 33rd at five-under, while two-time US Open champion Lee Janzen is two under.
Shaun Micheel, the 2003 PGA Championship winner, shot a two-over 74 to be at even par.
Jarrod Lyle (eight-under) is the next best of the Australian contingent in equal ninth while Steven Bowditch and James Nitties are both three-under in a share of 56th position.
Steve Allan (equal 73rd) is a shot further back on two-under in front of Nathan Green (one-under) and Craig Hocknull (one-under) who are both in a tie for 90th spot.
It's been a tournament to forget for Bronson La'Cassie (three-over) and Andre Stolz (10-over) who are equal 134th and outright 167th respectively in the 171-man field.