Canada's Glen Hnatiuk shot a third consecutive six-under-par 65 to lead the St Jude Classic by four shots going into the final round.

Hnatiuk is 18 under par and on course to record his first tour victory.

Tim Petrovic, who was the joint-leader after the first round, Matt Kuchar and Notah Begay III are tied for second at 14 under-par.

Hnatiuk said he had to his short game to thank for his four-shot cushion.

"I didn't hit it nearly as well as I did the first two days," said the 37-year-old.

"But my short game, chipping and putting was just phenomenal."

Accurate putting

Hantiuk opened his round with two birdies, making putts of 12 and 40 feet.

After a bogey-free second round, Hnatiuk had two in his third, the first at the par-four 6th.

But he sandwiched that with two more birdies and made the turn in 32 after another birdie on the 9th.

He dropped a shot at the 10th but added birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th, taking just 23 putts for his entire round.

Of the Canadian's closest challengers, Petrovic had the best day, landing nine birdies in his third round.

"If I play like I did on the back nine and can put two good nines together I think I have a good chance to win," said the American, who came home in 31.

Third round scores from the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis
(US unless stated, par 71)

195 Glen Hnatiuk (Canada) 65 65 65
199 Tim Petrovic 65 68 66, Matt Kuchar 66 66 67, Notah Begay III 66 65 68
200 Pat Bates 68 63 69
201 Tripp Isenhour 72 65 64, Neal Lancaster 70 67 64, David Toms 68 68 65
202 Ian Leggatt (Canada) 71 67 64, Len Mattiace 69 68 65, Mike Heinen 70 67 65, Rich Beem 67 68 67, Jim Carter 68 67 67
203 Paul Claxton 73 67 63, David Edwards 70 69 64, Sean Murphy 68 70 65, Loren Roberts 69 68 66, Donnie Hammond 70 66 67, Robert Gamez 70 64 69, Justin Leonard 66 66 71

Selected others:

205 Robert Allenby (Australia) 72 67 66, John Senden (Australia) 68 70 67
207 Grant Waite (New Zealand) 70 68 69, David Morland IV (Canada) 69 68 70
209 Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68 71 70, Frank Nobilo (New Zealand) 72 64 73
210 Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 71 68 71