Daniel Chopra shot a bogey-free 68 that catapulted him into the top-10 in the celebrity-laden AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the US Tour.
Chopra, a former regular on the Asian Tour, fired four birdies against no bogeys for a seven-under total of 209 and was tied 10th.
Also improving his position was Arjun Atwal, who shot a 71 and moved from 40th to 30th with three-under 213 total.
Chopra was seven shots behind co-leaders Kevin Sutherland (67) and Phil Mickelson (70).
Atwal had four birdies against three bogeys. This is Atwal's first appearance of the season following a recent spell out because of a back injury.
With his putter falling in line, Chopra had four birdies on third, ninth, 11th and 15th.
He needed just 25 putts as against 32 and 29 on first two days, but he was still having trouble finding greens in regulation, managing just 56 per cent.
Atwal, needing a good start to the season to ensure more than the 16-odd starts he is likely to get on his limited exemption for 2007, had birdies on the second, eighth, ninth and 15th. But he also dropped bogeys on fifth, tenth and 14th.
Trying to protect his back, which has just recovered, he has been driving conservatively and only reached 50 per cent greens. But putting was better with just 25 for the round.
Mickelson shot a 2-under 70 on Saturday at Spyglass Hill in the most miserable conditions. But it still gave him a share of the lead with Kevin Sutherland.
Sutherland had a birdie on his final hole at Poppy Hills for a 67. They were both at 14-under 202.
John Mallinger, a 27-year-old rookie, had a 68 at Poppy Hills and was one shot behind.
Jim Furyk faced with rain that fell sideways in 20 mph gusts at Pebble Beach took double bogey and wound up with a 76. At eight-under 208, he was tied sixth after being tied for lead overnight.
The Pro-am field plays each of the three venues Pebble beach, Spyglass and Poppy Hills over the first three days before the leading 60 professionals and ties qualify for Sunday's final round on the Pebble Beach Links.