Left-hander Brian Harman carded two eagles in a 6-under-par 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Steve Stricker heading to the final round of the John Deere Classic at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Harman, whose only professional victory came in the 2010 Manor Classic in the EGolf Tour, holed a 47-foot eagle putt on the 17th hole, a 29-foot eagle putt on the second hole and added four birdies.
“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing and not get caught up in it,” said Harman, who had a three-stroke lead until a two-shot swing on the final hole, where he made his second bogey of the day and Stricker had a birdie. “Steve’s a great partner and he’s going to make a lot of putts. I just have to keep up.
“It’s a first-shot golf course and if you put yourself in position, you can get to the pins and make some putts for birdies.”
Stricker, a local favorite from the University of Illinois who won the John Deere in 2009, 2010 and 2011, holed a 27-foot putt on the final hole for his eighth birdie of the day to shoot 64.
Scott Brown, whose only PGA Tour victory came in the 2013 Puerto Rico Open, recorded six of his 10 birdies on the back nine while shooting 61 and was two strokes back in solo third.
Zach Johnson, the 2012 John Deere champion who has finished in the top three in four of the last five years, posted a 69 and was three shots back in a tie for third with Tim Clark of South Africa (64), Jerry Kelly (65) and 36-hole leader William McGirt (69).
Defending champion Jordan Spieth shot 67 and was six strokes behind in a tie for 14th.
