In-form Australian Cam Davis has overcome extreme wind gusts to stay in the hunt at the PGA Tour's ZOZO Championship in Japan.

Davis showed true grit to defy some of the wildest conditions of his career and chisel out an even-par 70 to remain at three under par for the championship.

The former Australian Open champion is tied for eighth, four shots behind American leader Beau Hossler after conjuring two late birdies at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club on the outskirts of Tokyo.

"That was tough. That was one of the windiest rounds of golf I've had all year," Davis said.

"I hit my shortest drive of the year probably by 40 yards on the last hole.

"I cannot remember the last time I hit driver, driver on a par-4 and still came up short of the green."

Davis's round looked like slipping away after he dropped back to one under, and seven shots behind, with his second bogey of the day on his 12th hole.

But, after starting from the 10th tee, he rallied with birdies on the sixth and eighth to give himself a genuine shot of winning a second PGA Tour event on Sunday.

"It was a really tough day. Very happy with the way I ground it out in even par because that felt like a really difficult round," Davis said.

Hossler carded a five-under 65 to surge to a one-stroke lead over fellow American Justin Suh (66), with Japan's Satoshi Kodaira outright third at five under after a 68.

US pair Xander Schauffele (69) and Eric Cole (71) share fourth at four under - one ahead of Davis - along with home hope Yuki Inamori (67) and Argentine Emiliano Grillo (71).

Davis knows he's close enough if good enough entering the weekend.

"I wouldn't have said five under was out there, but these guys are pretty damn good," he said of the leader Hossler.

"You always expect someone to have a day where things go their way and Beau has just played super-great golf. Hats off to him.

"I managed to keep myself within shouting distance.

"From now on, hopefully, if it's not quite this bad weather-wise, there's going to be a lot of birdies out there.

"Still got 36 holes there to try and chase him down."

Min Woo Lee (73) and Aaron Baddeley (74) are the next-best Australians at two over, and nine shots adrift of the lead, with Adam Scott (73) one stroke further back.