Chad Campbell and Scott Piercy were locked in a tie for the lead of the Justin Timberlake Open after the third round.

Campbell recovered from a double bogey on the 16th to sign for a four-under-par 67. A birdie from the recovering Campbell at the last denied Piercy the outright lead after the local favourite shot a 65 to move onto 17 under for the tournament.

"I started off a little slow, making some pars," said Campbell. "I was able to make eagle there on 12 which kind of got things going and then birdied 13, birdied 15."

Reflecting on his double bogey on 16, he added: "[I] just came in a little low and it didn't quite carry, so I made double there, but I ended up 18 with a birdie which was nice.

"Overall [I'm] happy with the round. It's nice to end on a birdie."

Piercy's round featured seven birdies and a bogey and moved him to the summit just two days after his wife, Sara, had given birth to their third son, Jett.

"It's definitely been a rollercoaster," Piercy admitted. "I think early in the week it was the anticipation of having the baby. And I think emotionally that wears you down.

"Yesterday, I really felt like emotionally drained. I had nothing in the tank. The golf course has been kind of a quiet retreat from everything that I can just kind of punk up and down the fairway and take my time doing nothing."

The leading duo are only just ahead of the chasing pack, however, with Scotland's Martin Laird one shot back after a third-round 67. George McNeill (63), Jason Bohn (65), Jeff Klauk (66) and Bob Heintz (68) are locked in a tie for fourth on 15 under.

Troy Matteson, the joint leader after both the first and second rounds, saw his challenge fade as he carded a one-under 70 to move to 14 under.