By MARK RAYNER

Consistency has put Gavin Coles in a position to win a big share of the $US4.6 million on offer at the Ginn sur Mer Classic in Florida, California.

After three rounds the Bathurst professional was tied for 14th and two under par, five shots behind leader Michael Letzig.

Coming into the third round at two under par, Coles didn't get the best start when he bogeyed the fourth and eighth holes, but he rounded out the front nine with a birdie.

He parred the first three holes on the back of the course before going birdie, bogey, par, birdie on the 13th-16th holes to be back on even terms for the day.

Coles managed two rounds of 71 to ensure he made the two over par cut easily and secure weekend action.

His first round consisted of two birdies, including on the opening hole of the tournament, and a bogey on the 18th and had him tied for 27th.

Difficult conditions resulted in poorer scores in the second round but consistency was again the key for Coles as he carded another 71 and moved his way up the leaderboard.

Coles again birdied the par five first hole and the 11th before bogeying the 17th hole to avoid the cut by four shots.

Robert Allenby was the best of the Australians, tied for seventh at four under par while Nick O'Hern was tied for 14th along with Coles at two under.

The PGA Tour event is the second last tournament of the year for Coles and while it is a big task, a top two finish would almost certainly see him work his way into the top 125 money earners and gain a tour card.

A win would grant him automatic entry.

At the very least Coles will want to take good form into the final Nationwide Tour event of the year this weekend where he needs a big performance in order to finish in the top 25 of the Nationwide money earners and earn full PGA Tour rights.

Coles only had provisional tour status in 2008, limiting him to 15 PGA tournaments, but the Bathurst golfer is a good chance of getting his full card back for 2009 given his recent form.

Apart from his three rounds this weekend, Coles also got one of his best result of the season so far last week when he finished tied for third at the Miccosukee Championships in Florida.

It moved him from 68th on the Nationwide money list to 50th and needing to earn more than $US70000 in the Nationwide Tour Championship in Texas to move into the top 25.