LOS ANGELES, Jan 19 - American Scott Verplank stayed close to the lead in Friday's third round at the Bob Hope Classic, despite being shocked by the unusually cold weather at Palm Desert, California.

"It's terrible, not what you come to expect out here," the U.S. Ryder Cup player told reporters after shooting a four-under-par 68 at Bermuda Dunes Country Club, one of four venues hosting the 90-hole pro-am celebrity event.

"When I left home and came out here, I thought I was headed to Palm Springs, but I think I ended up in like Seattle or something," he said.

Co-leader overnight with Britain's Justin Rose, Verplank ended a cool and blustery day in the California desert alone in second place on 16-under 200, two off the pace.

"One of the reasons why I like this tournament is because the weather is (usually) so good," added the 42-year-old Verplank, who lives in Edmond, Oklahoma.

"I've been in bad weather for a couple of months, so you come out here to see some sun and sharpen your game and get ready for the New Year."

Verplank made a strong start with four birdies in his first nine holes but lost momentum after the turn as the wind strengthened and the temperature dipped.

LIPPED OUT

A birdie at the par-four 14th was offset by a bogey on 16 and he lipped out with an eight-foot birdie putt at the last.

"The back nine was pretty rugged," said the four-times PGA Tour winner, joint runner-up at last year's Bob Hope Classic behind winner Chad Campbell.

"I missed a couple of five-footers, one for birdie and one for par, and then I lipped out from about eight feet on the last hole.

"Just totally different conditions than what you're used to here. Here at Bermuda Dunes, I've never played the 18th hole where I couldn't get the green in two.

"It wasn't even close. I hit driver, three-wood and I was still 30 yards short of the front of the green."

Verplank, who has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2001 Canadian Open, said the back nine had been a trial in the deteriorating weather.

"It was still kind of cold and I was thinking it wasn't very good but making the turn on the 10th tee, the wind picked up to 20 miles an hour and the temperature dropped another 10 degrees," he said.

"I played as hard as I could and, with the conditions tough, I'm just happy to be done."