CROMWELL (Connecticut), July 2: American J.J. Henry, in red-hot form with his putter, fired a seven-under-par 63 to surge two strokes clear in the Buick Championship third round on Saturday.

Bidding for his first victory on the PGA Tour, Henry rattled up eight birdies and a solitary bogey on a hot day at the TPC at River Highlands, finishing at 11-under 199.

Compatriot Harrison Frazar, boosted by a six-birdie run from the par-four 10th, was alone in second place after firing a 65.

The 31-year-old Connecticut native, four strokes off the pace at the start of the day, raced to the turn in four-under 31 after picking up shots at the third, fifth, seventh and ninth.

Leading third round scores:

199 – J.J. Henry (US) 68, 68, 63.

201 – Harrison Frazar (US) 65, 71, 65.

202 – Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 66, 70, 66; Ryan Moore (US) 69, 66, 67.

203 – Steve Flesch (US) 69, 70, 64; Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 70, 65, 68; Peter Lonard (Australia) 65, 68, 70.

204 – Mathias Groenberg (Sweden) 68, 71, 65; Hunter Mahan (US) 69, 67, 68; Joe Ogilvie (US) 72, 63, 69; Todd Fischer (US) 66, 68, 70.

205 – David Branshaw (US) 68, 71, 66; David McKenzie (Australia) 69, 69, 67; Woody Austin (US) 67, 70, 68; Robert Gamez (US) 71, 66, 68; Zach Johnson (US) 67, 69, 69; Justin Leonard (US) 67, 69, 69; Nathan Green (Australia) 71, 65, 69; Notah Begay III (US) 68, 66, 71; Scott Verplank (US) 65, 69, 71.

206 – Jason Bohn (US) 73, 65, 68; Marco Dawson (US) 71, 67, 68; Tag Ridings (US) 67, 69, 70; Bubba Dickerson (US) 69, 67, 70; Nick Watney (US) 69, 67, 70; Stewart Cink (US) 69, 65, 72; Darron Stiles (US) 66, 66, 74.

FRENCH OPEN SCORES