PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Stewart Cink played the last of his 28 holes yesterday in near darkness, eager to finish a long day in the toughest conditions the PGA Tour has seen this year.

Even after his lone bogey in the third round for a 2-under 69, he couldn't wait to get started today.

Playing in 30 mph wind at the PODS Championship for the better part of 12 hours, Cink's fortunes turned quickly when he ran of three straight birdies and went from four shots down to a two-shot lead that likely puts him in the final group for the third time this year.

He was at 5-under 208, two shots ahead of former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Brandt Snedeker, who had a four-shot lead until his momentum changed on a three-putt from 12 feet, was at 3 under and had three holes to play. Billy Mayfair also was at 3 under playing the 16th hole when darkness suspended the third round.

Only nine players remained under par. The tournament is still up for grabs.

"I've got to keep pushing," Cink said. "My goal is to give no one a chance tomorrow."

That sounds like the M.O. from Tiger Woods, and Cink knows that all too well. He was in the last group at Torrey Pines with Woods, albeit eight shots behind. And Cink was in the final at the Accenture Match Play Championship, which Woods won by a record margin for the final match, 8 and 7.

"I've seen him do that," Cink said, "and it looks like it's a lot of fun."

Even better? Woods has the week off.

"When the cat's away ..." Cink said.

This will be his second good chance at winning in five events, so he's off to a good start.

"That's a step in the right direction," said Cink, who hasn't won since Firestone in 2004.

Cink had no problem with fatigue. He played 32 holes on Saturday of the Match Play (winning twice), and played 29 holes in the final match against Woods. But neither of those days featured such a vicious wind on an Innisbrook course that requires so much thought.

"One gust can mean two shots. It's as simple as that," Cink said.

Snedeker was at 7 under, leading by four, and had a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 eighth. But he three-putted for bogey, hit into the trees on the right at No. 9 for another bogey, three-putted the 13th, and suddenly was two shots behind.

"I'm disappointed with two three-putts on the par 3s. They were both stupid, boneheaded mistakes, but those are going to happen," Snedeker said. "You've got to be patient. I'm still right there."

Sean O'Hair and Tom Pernice Jr. each shot 71 and were at 2-under 211. The nine players under par included defending champion Mark Calcavecchia, who was 1 under with two holes to play.

Seventy-nine players made the cut, activating the week-old amendment to the PGA Tour's cut policy. Because more than 78 players made the cut, a second cut to the top 70 and ties was to be made after third round.

That knocked out eight players, who will receive official, last-place money.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin were among those missing the cut.

Wilson, a Castle High and BYU alum, struggled to a 79 for a 149 total, while McLachlin, a Punahou School and UCLA alum, shot a 78 for 153.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

LANGER AHEAD BY THREE IN TOSHIBA CLASSIC

Two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer moved into position for his second Champions Tour victory yesterday, shooting his second straight 6-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the Toshiba Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

Langer, the Administaff Small Business Classic winner last October in Texas in only his fourth start on the 50-and-over tour, had an eagle, five birdies and a bogey yesterday on the Newport Beach Country Club course.

"I putted better," Langer said. "I made two longer ones and a couple of 12- to 15-footers."

Morris Hatalsky (64), Jeff Sluman (65), first-round leader Tim Simpson (70) and 2005 winner Mark Johnson (69) were tied for second at 9 under.

Defending champion Jay Haas (69) was another stroke back along with Keith Fergus (67) and D.A. Weibring (68).

Scott Hoch, coming off consecutive wins in Florida in the Allianz Championship and The ACE Group Classic, was nine strokes back at 3 under after a 72.

Scotland's Sandy Lyle, making his Champions Tour debut, was even par after a 72. The two-time major champion turned 50 on Feb. 9.

Langer holed a 50-foot eagle putt on the par-5 third hole and was 5 under on the three par 5s in the first two rounds.

"I think it is definitely a key," Langer said. "They are all reachable in two shots. They played a little longer in the wind, but I still reached all of them."

PGA EUROPEAN/ASIAN

SWEDE HEDBLOM LEADS MALAYSIAN OPEN BY TWO

Defending champion Peter Hedblom shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 yesterday to claim a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Malaysian Open at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Swede fired five birdies on the back nine to complete his third successive sub-70 round for a total of 17-under 199 on the Kota Permai course in the event sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.

"Last year was the first time I played good in Malaysia," Hedblom said. "So far it has been good but I don't know why. I don't normally play well in hot weather but the last two years have been good.

"Two-shot lead — you want to get as big a lead as possible as you can shoot a low score round here."

Argentina's Daniel Vancsik eagled the first hole after a long iron to within a foot of the flag, en route to a 64. The best round of the day moved Vancsik into sole possession of second place at 15-under 201.