Playing in the final group for the third round of the Champions Tour's third major, relative unknown Joe Daley outplayed an ailing Fred Couples and held off a charging Tom Lehman.

It was another one of the tour's biggest names who ended the day with a long putt to ensure Daley wouldn't have sole possession of the lead as he searches for his first tour victory.

Mark Calcavecchia holed a 50-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for a 6-under 64 on Saturday, moving him into a tie with Daley atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of the Senior Players Championship.

''Capping the day with a 50-footer on the last hole always helps,'' said Calcavecchia, who won the Montreal Championship last week. ''It always makes dinner taste a little bit better. ... All in all, I thought I played great.''

Calcavecchia's bogey-free round matched the best of the day and allowed him to match Daley at 12-under 198 at Fox Chapel. Daley, winless on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour, had a 68.

Lehman and Couples, the second-round leader and winner last year at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y., were a stroke back. Couples had a 70, and Lehman shot a 66. Lehman won the Regions Traditions in his last start.

After two consecutive days of temperatures in the mid-90s, the third round was played in slightly more bearable conditions.

Daley appeared as if he might wilt - not because of the weather but because of the pressure of playing in the first group with a pair of major tournament champions in Couples and Lehman.

Daley bogeyed Nos. 3 and 4 after Lehman and Couples each had already birdied No. 2. But Daley recovered with a birdie on No. 5 and avoided mistakes the rest of the way.