Claxton continues to lead after third day of q-school

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Will Claxton shot a 3-under 69 on Friday on PGA West's TPC Stadium Course to increase his lead to two strokes after the third round of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament.

Claxton had a 13-under 203 total.

The top 25 in the six-round event will earn 2012 PGA TOUR cards.

Bobby Gates and Matt Jones were tied for second. Gates shot a 68, and Jones had a 70. They also played the Stadium course.

David Duval was tied for 115th at 1 over after a 73 on the Stadium course.

A day after high winds wreaked havoc on the area, conditions were much calmer Friday and it was reflected in the scores. Three players went as low as 8 under, while one, Robert Streb, was 9 under with a 63 on the Tournament course.

There were also a pair of holes-in-one from Lee Williams and Chris Tidland, who is tied for 27th after a 65 on the Tournament course.

Some of the notables inside the top 25 on the leaderboard through three rounds include Vaughn Taylor and Billy Hurley III, both of whom are tied for fifth. Hurley already has a card via the Nationwide Tour but is trying to improve his status.

Another shot back and tied for seventh is Harris English, who won earlier this year on the Nationwide Tour while he was still in school at the University of Georgia.

Veterans Brett Wetterich and Marco Dawson are tied for ninth, while Dicky Pride, Adam Hadwin, Dean Wilson, Bob May and Bob Estes are among those tied for 19th.

On the wrong side of the number, at least for now, are Arnold Palmer's grandson Sam Saunders and Boo Weekley, both of whom are tied for 73rd.

Ty Tryon, who made it to the final stage for a second straight year after 10 years of failing to do so, is tied for 134th.