Jim Furyk closed in on a third Canadian Open crown on Saturday, firing a five-under-par 65 for a three-shot, third-round lead in the US PGA Tour event.

Furyk had five birdies and no bogeys on the par-70 Royal Montreal Golf Club’s Blue Course for a 54-hole total of 15-under par 195.

He was three strokes clear of South African Tim Clark, who played his way into contention on 12-under with a six-under 64 that included four birdies and an eagle two at the par-four second hole.

Clark opened with a birdie at the first, then holed out from the fairway at the second.

“You dream of a start like that, and after that I continued to play some pretty solid golf,” Clark said.

“I was struggling a little bit with my ball striking at the start of the year, then I found it a few months ago … and now finally the putts are starting to go.”

American Kyle Stanley was alone in third place after a 68 to be 10-under, with compatriot Jamie Lovemark a further stroke back.

Graham DeLaet was the top Canadian, carding an even-par 70 to join a group sharing fifth place on 202, alongside Americans Joe Durant, Scott Brown and Tim Petrovic — who shared the overnight lead with Furyk.

DeLaet is trying to end a 60-year victory drought for Canadian golfers in their home open.

The Australian contingent has fallen away with Nathan Green and Robert Allenby sitting at three-under.