The day didn’t start as Brett Coletta had planned, but he remains firmly in contention for his first Korn Ferry Tour victory after round three.

The Australian took a couple of steps down the leaderboard in terms of position after his third-round three-under-par 69 at the Club Car Championship in Savannah, Georgia, today.

But importantly, leader Max McGreevy didn’t skip away and the Victorian remained where he started the day, still just two strokes off the pace but now at 13 under.

And fellow Melburnian Ryan Ruffels also forged into contention with a 65 of his own to surge to 10 under and a share of 14th.

Coletta missed the fairway of the The Landings Club’s first hole and paid a heavy price when his putter also miscued and he took a double-bogey to tumble down the leaderboard from his overnight T2 post.

But the 24-year-old, who said after his second round that patience had been vital in his opening pair of 67s, again personified that trait.

He firstly solidified, then made three birdies on the bounce from the fifth to regain his momentum.

He then capped a great rearguard action with two more birdies on the 14th and 16th to stay on the cusp of what would be a breakthrough victory.

Coletta has a handful of top-five finishes on the secondary American tour, including having run third at this venue twice in the past two years.

Ruffels carded eight birdies in his round, the equal low score of the day.

Two other Aussies made the cut, with Brett Drewitt returning a 70 to reach four under par, while fellow New South Welshman Harrison Endycott fired a 72 to stay two under.

LEADERBOARD