Golf-American Snedeker stays one ahead at blustery Tampa Bay

MIAMI, March 8 (Reuters) - American Brandt Snedeker shrugged off gusting winds to maintain a one-shot lead midway through the weather-delayed third round of the Tampa Bay Championship at Palm Harbour on Saturday.

A stroke in front when the second round was completed earlier in the day, Snedeker offset three birdies with three bogeys to reach the turn in level-par 36.

That left him five under overall in cold, blustery conditions on the challenging Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

U.S. Ryder Cup player Stewart Cink was second, after 10 holes, with fellow American Billy Mayfair and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy a further stroke adrift in a tie for third. Ogilvy had completed 13 holes and Mayfair nine.

Snedeker, whose only PGA Tour victory came at last year's Wyndham Championship in his rookie season, traded a birdie at the first with a bogey at the second.

Although he pulled his second shot at the par-five fifth into the left rough, he struck his third to five feet to set up another birdie and forge two ahead.

TWO-SHOT SWING

At the par-four seventh, Snedeker benefited from a two-shot swing at the expense of playing partner Mayfair.