American Gay charges five ahead in Mexico

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - American Brian Gay, seeking his maiden PGA Tour title, birdied the last three holes to surge five shots clear in the Mayakoba Classic third round on Saturday.

One stroke off the pace overnight, Gay fired a blistering eight-under-par 62 in ideal scoring conditions on the El Camaleon course at the resort of Playa del Carmen on the Riviera Maya.

That left him at 15-under 195, well ahead of second-placed American Steve Marino who carded a 64.

Overnight leader John Merrick returned a 69 to share third spot at nine-under with fellow American Matt Kuchar (64) while PGA Tour veteran Esteban Toledo of Mexico (63) was a further stroke behind in fifth.

Gay, a Walker Cup amateur in 1993 before turning professional the following year, birdied the first two holes before reaching the turn in two-under 33.

He caught fire on the back nine, picking up furthers shots on 10, 13 and 14 before finishing birdie-birdie-birdie.

American Fred Funk, who became the fifth oldest winner in PGA Tour history with a playoff victory here over Argentina's Jose Coceres last year, carded a 66 to lie 15 shots off the lead.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Marana, Arizona)