[hjacknicklaus]

Brian Gay made a late push on Saturday to take over the lead after the third round of the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Entering the round a shot out of the top spot, Gay fired an eight-under-par 62 and has a five-shot lead with one round to play.

At 15-under 195, Gay leads Steve Marino by five shots. Matt Kuchar and 36-hole leader John Merrick are another shot back.

Looking for his first career win, Gay obviously is in pretty unfamiliar territory. He has a 54-hole lead for just the second time in his career.

The first time was at the Colonial in 2004, when he dropped from a three-way tie for the lead to a tie for 14th after playing the final round at five-over.

"I just have to keep doing what I did today. It would be nice right now to just start the fourth round," Gay said.

"I've never had a five-shot lead, so I don't know. I'll try to play my game as best I can, you know, and just play smart."

Gay and Merrick were tied for the lead through 10 holes before Gay caught fire down the stretch.

Back-to-back birdies at numbers. 13 and 14 got Gay rolling and he closed his round with three consecutive birdies to take a commanding lead.

"I had an easy birdie on 13, the par-five, and made a nice putt on 14," Gay said. "The chip shot on 15 really kept me going. I hit the wrong club on the par-three and came up short down into the left. Hit a great chip to will three feet and saved par. That kind of kept me going. Then hit it close on the last two holes, six feet and four feet."