July 17, 2006	Monday	Jumadi-ul-Sani 20, 1427

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SILVIS (Illinois), July 16: John Senden, who has three international wins on his resume, fired a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 on Saturday and has a three-shot lead after three rounds of the PGA John Deere Classic.

Australia's Senden fired seven birdies — two on his last four holes — to get to 16-under 197.

Heath Slocum and Patrick Sheehan are Senden's closest pursuers, each signing for a five-under 66. They are at 13-under 200 through 54 holes at the TPC Deere Run.

Slocum also had a bogey-free round that featured five birdies.

He is looking to win for the third consecutive season and would join pretty exclusive company if he did so. Only Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Stuart Appleby and David Toms have won in each of the last three years.

Second-round leader Joe Ogilvie shot a 69 and is in a group of five at 12-under 201.

Alex Cejka (64), Steve Jones (66), J.P. Hayes (66) and Daniel Chopra (68) are tied with Ogilvie at 12-under 201. Defending champion Sean O'Hair is tied for 38th at seven-under after a 68.

Leading third round scores:

197 –John Senden (Australia) 64, 69, 64.

200 – Heath Slocum (US) 69, 65, 66; Patrick Sheehan (US) 68, 66, 66.

201 – Alex Cejka (Germany) 69, 68, 64; Steve Jones (US) 67, 68, 66; J.P. Hayes (US) 64, 71, 66; Joe Ogilvie (US) 65, 67, 69; Daniel Chopra (Sweden) 64, 69, 68.

202 – Daisuke Maruyama (Japan) 66, 70, 66; B.J. Staten (US) 66, 70, 66.

203 – Jeff Maggert (US) 73, 65, 65; Michael Connell (US) 66, 70, 67; D.J. Trahan (US) 69, 67, 67; Jason Gore (US) 67, 69, 67; Dan Forsman (US) 68, 67, 68; Ryan Moore (US) 68, 66, 69; Stephen Leaney (Australia) 68, 67, 68; Billy Mayfair (US) 70, 70, 63; Kris Cox (US) 65, 68, 70.

204 – Steve Flesch (US) 68, 70, 66; Chris Smith (US) 70, 67, 67; Mark Brooks (US) 70, 68, 66; Justin Rose (Britain) 71, 66, 67; Todd Hamilton (US) 68, 69, 67; Kent Jones (US) 71, 65, 68; Billy Hurley III (US) 67, 72, 65; Steve Elkington (Australia) 70, 66, 68; Craig Barlow (US) 69, 67, 68.

205 – Paul Azinger (US) 67, 70, 68; Bubba Watson (US) 67, 70, 68; Jeff Overton (US) 68, 69, 68; Matt Hansen (US) 70, 66, 69; John Riegger (US) 67, 69, 69; Ryan Palmer (US) 67, 68, 70; Bill Haas (US) 70, 66, 69; J.B. Holmes (US) 75, 65, 65; John Huston (US) 66, 67, 72.

206 – Sean O'Hair (US) 69, 69, 68; Matt Gogel (US) 67, 71, 68; Omar Uresti (US) 70, 68, 68; Jeff Sluman (US) 72, 65, 69; Steve Stricker (US) 68, 70, 68; Zach Johnson (US) 64, 72, 70; Bubba Dickerson (US) 68, 68, 70; Henrik Bjornstad (Norway) 67, 69, 70; Dean Wilson (US) 67, 69, 70; Garrett Willis (US) 70, 70, 66; Kevin Sutherland (US) 69, 66, 71; Jay Williamson (US) 68, 72, 66.

BJORN, CLARKE IN LEAD

LOCH LOMOND: Denmark's Thomas Bjorn continued his love affair with Loch Lomond on Saturday, firing a five-under-par 66 to set up a last-day title shootout with his close friend Darren Clarke at the Scottish Open.

Briton Clarke, who led by three strokes at the start of the third round, carded a level-par 71 to finish alongside his former Ryder Cup team mate on 202, 11 under.

Leading third round scores:

202 – Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 72, 64, 66; Darren Clarke (Britain) 66, 65, 71

204 – Benn Barham (Britain) 71, 68, 65; David Drysdale (Britain) 65, 70, 69; Andres Romero (Argentina) 72, 64, 68.

205 – Tim Clark (South Africa) 69, 67, 69; Raphael Jacquelin (France) 68, 72, 65; Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68, 66, 71; Jean-Francois Remesy (France) 73, 65, 67.

206 – Jamie Donaldson (Britain) 68, 67, 71; Ernie Els (South Africa) 70, 69, 67; Mark Foster (Britain) 70, 68, 68; Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) 68, 66, 72.

207 – Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 71, 66, 70; Luke Donald (Britain) 68, 69, 70; Ian Garbutt (Britain) 71, 67, 69; Sergio Garcia (Spain) 71, 67, 69; Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 72, 69, 66; Tom Lehman (US) 69, 72, 66; David Lynn (Britain) 70, 68, 69; Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 72, 66, 69; Ian Poulter (Britain) 70, 67, 70; Lee Westwood (Britain) 69, 67, 71.—Agencies