NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (AFP) - Chris Couch defied blustery, stormy conditions to seize a one-shot lead after Saturday's third round of the US$6-million Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Couch rocketed up the leaderboad, firing an eight-under-par 64 to improve to 12-under 204 for the tournament.

With four holes remaining on Friday, Couch needed to get two more birdies to play on the weekend. He did that and made the cut on the number.

On Saturday, Couch went from tied for 58th to leader by one stroke over Charles Howell and Howell and Joe Durant, while Dean Wilson and Cameron Beckman were two shots behind.

Playing in the fourth group off of the tee, Couch was eight strokes off the lead when he teed off five hours before the leaders, and he was done just as overnight leader Durant was teeing off.

"I don't think that I'm going to be in the lead by the end of the day," Couch said.

It was about the only thing he got wrong all day.

Couch had five birdies on his outward run, incuding a 25-footer at the third.

"I hadn't really made a putt like that all week," Couch said. "That was kind of a surprise."

Two holes later he drained a 30-footer from the fringe.

He was perfect until the final hole, when he made a bogey after failing to get up and down after finding the greenside bunker.

While he was resting in the clubhouse, the leaders were playing in wind that Stephen Leaney described as "three clubs."

Durant's round started ominously when he hit a knock-down seven-iron from 115 yards and was unable to reach the green.

"I was like, 'Uh, oh. This could be a long day,'" Durant said.

Durant had two two birdies and five bogeys going out.

"I was just trying to hang on," Durant said. "It was pretty helter-skelter out there."

Three birdies in a row got Durant back to 11-under par, but that is as low as he would get. He made bogey on 15, but holed a 25-footer on 18 to get into a tie with Howell.

Howell battled the wind for most of the day but was able to remain bogey-free until the final hole.

"I took advantage of the par-fives, which you have to do out here," said Howell, who made birdie on three of four of them. "I was able to do that and keep the ball out of trouble. With this much wind, par is a good score."

The wind will give more players a chance Sunday. One of those is Phil Mickelson, who is trying to win his third consecutive start and shot a 68 to move into a tie for sixth, three strokes behind Couch.

"I played much better," Mickelson said. "I hit a lot better shots. I still have a long ways to go to try and make up ground. I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low round to try to catch the leaders, but I'm pleased that I at least have that chance."