Will Wilcox began the week playing on a sponsor's exemption, but he could end it as a Canadian Tour champion.
The 24-year-old from Birmingham, Ala., has the lead heading into the final round of the $250,000 Dakota Dunes Casino Open after shooting 8-under 64 on Saturday.
Wilcox was at 19-under 197, one shot ahead of 2008 winner Josh Geary (64). Brady Stockton, the leader after the second round, was at 17 under after a 69.
"This is pretty cool, I just want to make the most of this chance," said Wilcox, an eight-time college champion and two-time NCAA All-American at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "I could have been a lot lower, to be honest, but you won't get any complaints from me. I've just been hitting it in the right spots and giving myself a lot of looks."
American Clayton Rask made a charge, shooting 9-under 63 to leap into a tie fourth at 16-under 194 with Jim Seki (67) and Garrett Frank (69).
Mitchell Gillis (69) was the top Canadian at 14 under, one shot better than Oshawa, Ont., native Derek Gillespie (68), Calgary's Ryan Yip (71) and Wes Heffernan (67), and Edmonton's Danny Sahl (70).
Wilcox took the lead with a bogey-free round that included four birdies in a row.
"I've held the lead heading into the final round before, so I know what to expect," Wilcox said. "I'm really happy to be up here and playing this well. This is awesome. I'll just put my head down and try to keep it going Sunday."
Rask, who placed fourth in Saskatoon two summers ago, had birdies on seven of his first eight holes to hit the turn at 7 under.