Hideto Tanihara put himself in a strong position to advance to the last 16 of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play as he moved three up on Yuta Ikeda at the turn at Austin Country Club.
The Japanese was a shock winner over Jordan Spieth on day one in Group 5 but after Thursday's results, a four-way play-off was still very much a possibility.
Tanihara was doing his utmost to avoid that, however, and four birdies on the front nine put him in a commanding position knowing a win would see him through.
Louis Oosthuizen and Ross Fisher were on course for an all European Tour play-off as they both led three up after seven and six holes respectively in Group 4.
Tanihara and countryman Ikeda both parred the first two holes but the 54th seed then made four birdies in a row from the third to move two up before he won the eighth with a bogey.
Also in Group 5, Spieth was one up through ten against Ryan Moore.
Oosthuizen lost the first hole to Hideki Matsuyama but a birdie-par-birdie run put him two up before he made another birdie on the sixth.
Jim Furyk came into the third round of matches looking like the favourite to qualify but three birdies in his first five holes from Fisher put the Englishman in command.
Charl Schwartzel faced a winner-takes-all clash against Paul Casey in Group 12 but he trailed by three holes after 12.
In the dead rubber in Group 12, Byeong-hun An was one up after 11 holes against Joost Luiten.
Thomas Pieters was all square after nine holes of his must-win match against Bubba Watson in Group 13, while Jhonattan Vegas was one up after eight against Scott Piercy.
