GREAT ABACO, Bahamas – Battling windy conditions all day at The Abaco Club on Winding Bay, Willy Wilcox, John Oda and Erik Compton sit tied for the lead after 54 holes. The trio is tied at 8-under 208 through three rounds, two strokes clear of the field at The Bahamas Great Abaco Classic at The Abaco Club.

“I love playing in the wind,” said Wilcox, who tied for the round of the day at 3-under 69. “I lived down on an island for a little while so I’ve played a ton of wind golf. I love doing it. That back nine was awfully difficult today though, but my new putting and everything seems to be working pretty well.”

Wilcox referenced the new style of putting he has played with over this season’s first two events, an arm-lock style. Wilcox turned in 4-under 32 today before bogeying the 11th and 17th, along with a birdie at the 16th to finish at 3-under 69.

“My second shot on nine today – to make birdie – was huge,” said Wilcox who finished T4. “That was a really difficult pin and to be able to birdie that one and make the turn in 4-under, that was great. It was still 20 feet away on the green, but it was like 155 yards and I just belted a 6-iron to get it there.”

After turning at even-par 36, Oda added late birdies at the 15th and the 18th to finish at 2-under 70 on the day. Oda joins Wilcox as players in contention for the second week in a row. The 22-year-old also finished T4 in Great Exuma last week after leading after the first and second rounds.

“I grew up in Hawaii and in Kapalua it gets really windy,” said Oda. “I’ve had a few tournaments on that side of the island when it gets really windy, when it’s blowing 30 and I’m hitting 5-iron from 150 yards or less. This wind is challenging, but it’s not new to me.”

Compton, who led after the second round, carded a 2-over 74 on Tuesday to fall into a tie for first. The 39-year-old struggled on the greens, putting off of the 10th (double bogey) and 14th greens (bogey).

“I don’t have to eat dinner because I ate so much sand out there,” said Compton. “It was really tough today, each hole was very difficult. I really did what I wanted to do from tee-to-green, I just struggled on the greens. I putted a couple of balls off the green, but I think that’s to be expected with everybody this week. But I’m proud I hung in there and gave myself a chance going in to tomorrow.”

The journeyman carded just two birdies during the third round after 12 birdies and an eagle combined over the first two rounds.

“Being at the top of the leaderboard going into the final round is what you work for,” said Compton. “It’s a great feeling. I love the feeling of the heart racing and having to execute shots when it counts.”

The trio of players at the top leads Vincent Whaley by two strokes entering the final round. Whaley is a rookie on the Web.com Tour after competing on the All Pro Tour in 2018.

Final-round tee times will run from 7:42 to 11:45 a.m. off of the first tee.