WICHITA, Kan. -- Matt Kuchar currently holds the top spot at what promises to be a Sunday shootout at the $500,000 Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open, the 18th Nationwide Tour event of the season.

With just 18 holes remaining, Kuchar fired a 2-under 69 to move to 14-under-par 199 and a one-stroke cushion over Palm Beach Garden, FL residents Nick Malinowski (67), Kevin Johnson (67) and Stephen Marino (67). In all, 28 players will enter the final round within five shots of the lead.

Birdies were the norm the first two days of the tournament thanks in large part to a lift, clean and place policy being in effect at a rain-soaked Crestview Country Club. Saturday presented a much different challenge, as Kuchar and the rest of the field played the ball down and battled winds gusting up to 29 miles per hour.

“It is amazing what some sunshine and some wind will do to a golf course,” said Kuchar, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens in regulation. “It played a lot different. If you would have told me last night that 14-under would be leading I would have said, ‘no way.’”

Kuchar did manage four birdies on the day, highlighted by a 12-foot chip-in on No. 2, a 20-footer on No. 9 and a 12-footer on No. 16. Birdies on two of the final three holes (Nos. 16 & 18) helped propel the former U.S. Amateur champion and Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket to sole possession of the lead.

“I was glad to see that one go in on No. 16,” said Kuchar, winner of the 2002 Honda Classic. “Birdies don’t come easy in wind like this. It played awfully difficult today.”

Kuchar will enter the final round seeking his second Tour victory of the season to go with the title he won earlier this season at the Henrico County Open.

“I’m looking forward to it tomorrow,” said Kuchar, currently No. 22 on the money list. “Somebody will post a pretty good number tomorrow. It won’t be a day where you can just go out there and protect.”

It appeared Malinowski would emerge with the lead after building a two-shot lead coming down the homestretch, but a bogey on the par-3 17th hole opened the door for Kuchar to claim the top spot. That – as well as eight pars out of the gate on Saturday – didn’t dampen the spirits of the former caddie of PGA TOUR member Kris Cox.

“I played solid today,” said Malinowski, currently No. 97 on the official money list. “I never got too anxious out there. I stayed real patient throughout the day.”

A win on Sunday could turn around a lackluster season so far for the Tour rookie. In 13 previous starts, a tie for eighth place at the Peek’n Peak Classic is his lone top-10 finish among just five made cuts.

“Whatever happens, happens,” said Malinowski. “I’m not a big leaderboard watcher. I will just take one shot at a time and see what happens.”

Gavin Coles – Kuchar’s fellow co-leader after the first two rounds – didn’t fare as well with a 2-over 73 and a fall to 10-under par. Despite birdieing three of his first six holes to move to 15-under at the time, Coles saw a three-stroke cushion wiped out following a double bogey on No. 7 and ensuing bogeys on Nos. 9, 12 and 17.

Third Round News & Notes: Josh Broadaway saw his bogey-free streak this week snapped at 40 holes, with his first bogey of the week coming at No. 5 … Steve Collins (68) and John Merrick (70) both posted their second consecutive bogey-free round and each extended his tournament-leading bogey-free streak to 39 holes. In all, there were seven bogey-free rounds on Saturday – including one by defending champion Joe Daley – bringing the total this week to 38 … Gene Jones (66) had six straight birdies on Nos. 12-17, just one shy of Rocky Walcher’s tournament-best seven straight to open his third round in 2000 … In 13 72-hole events at the Preferred Health Systems Wichita Open, the 54-hole leader has won five times, most recently Jason Dufner in 2001 … In 17 tournaments in 2006, the 54-hole leader has won six times and most recently Hunter Haas at the Knoxville Open … Sunday’s winner will take home $90,000 from a total purse of $500,000.