Scott Verplank & Stephen Ames share lead - Children's Miracle Network Classic 2007

Overnight pacesetter Scott Verplank shrugged off a faltering start to hold a share of the lead in the Disney Classic third round at Lake Buena Vista on Saturday.

The American fired a one-under-par 71 for a 13-under total of 203, finishing level with Canada's Stephen Ames (70) in the final event of the 2007 PGA Tour season.

Five-times Tour winner Verplank dropped his first two shots of the week on the fifth and sixth holes before making a late surge with birdies at the 12th and 15th.

Ames, bidding for his third Tour title, broke two clear of a congested leaderboard with three birdies in five holes before losing momentum with three-putt bogeys on 16 and at the last.

"Nobody really did anything up at the top," Verplank, 43, told reporters after a blustery day on the rain-sodden Magnolia course.

"This golf course is still playing really long, making it much harder to hit it close which you occasionally need to do to make a bunch of birdies.

"The good news is I'm tied for the lead but there's got to be 30 guys who have a chance to win."

At one point, five players held a share of the lead as the scoring fluctuated wildly at the Walt Disney World Resort.

By the end of the day, the top 19 players were separated by just three shots going into the final round.

Justin Leonard returned a 70 to share third place at 12 under with fellow Americans Tim Petrovic (68), Tag Ridings (71) and Jeff Overton (69), plus Australian Mathew Goggin (69).

Big-hitting American Brett Wetterich eagled the par-five 10th to move one stroke in front before tumbling back into a tie for ninth spot with a 72.

He bogeyed 12 and 15 and ran up a triple-bogey at the last where he incurred a two-shot penalty after touching a twig that was deemed a loose impediment.

"Brett had branches and sticks all around the ball that were loose impediments," PGA Tour rules official Jon Brendle said.

"He was taking some waggles to see if he could play the ball, accidentally touched the loose impediments and was given a two-stroke penalty."

Compatriot Rich Beem, winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, also vaulted to the top of the leaderboard with five birdies in the first 13 holes.

However, he lost ground with a three-bogey run from the 15th for a 70 to finish level with Wetterich and nine others at 10 under.

Despite bright sunshine, course conditions remained soggy and preferred lies were in operation for the third day in a row.