(MENAFN- Kora) McIlroy finished top of the leaderboard for a third straight day on 12 under after carding a one-under 69, two shots clear of Russell Henley of the United States, while Scotland's Russell Knox is third on nine under
In his earlier two rounds at the PGA National course at Palm Beach Gardens, McIlroy had started strongly with at least a birdie in the opening three holes and he continued that trend on Saturday, picking up shots on the first and third
But bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes saw the 24-year-old Northern Irishman relinquish momentum
McIlroy fought hard on the back nine, notching birdies on the 12th and 16th holes, split by a bogey on the 14th, but the former world number one missed a chance to stretch his lead on the 18th, botching a long birdie putt
Instead the world number eight, who has led at the end of each round so far at the Honda Classic, will have a chasing pack of seven players within five shots of him to start the final day of the PGA Tour event
Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge had a terrible third round in Florida, plummeting 22 positions to a share of 24th at four under, after starting the day a stroke behind McIlroy
De Jonge posted a six-over 76, including double-bogeys on the sixth and 11th holes, plus five bogeys
The 33-year-old bogeyed the final two holes to fall eight shots adrift of McIlroy
Lee Westwood joined De Jonge at four under, after starting the round in fourth spot alongside Knox, after a three-over 73
Henley replaced De Jonge in second position after a two-under 68, including two birdies and an eagle on the back nine, took him to 10 under, while Knox (68) birdied the 15th and 16th holes to stay well in contention
Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (66) sits fourth on eight under, while Stuart Appleby of Australia, England's Luke Donald and American pair Keegan Bradley and Ryan Palmer share fifth position a shot further back
World number one Tiger Woods climbed the leaderboard with a five-under 65, including a bogey-free back nine that included birdies on the 10th, 11th, 14th and 15th holes
Woods moved 49 positions to end the third round in a tie for 17th at five-under overall
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