US Open champion Ernie Els moved a step closer to his third victory of the year, firing a par 72 on Saturday for a three-stroke lead after three rounds at the PGA Buick Open.
The South African, who won the week after his Open title as well, stood at 13-under par 203 in the $1.5 million event, three strokes ahead of Larry Mize, Brad Fabel and two-time US Open champion Curtis Strange.
Els had a horrid start, three-putting for double bogey at the second hole. But he followed with a six-foot birdie putt on the third, birdied the par-five seventh and was back on form.
Els made back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17 but suffered through a 30 minute weather delay before the final hole and ended with a bogey.
Leading third round scores (US unless stated) - 203 - E Els (RSA) 68 63 72; 206 - C Strange 72 66 68, L Mize 68 69 69, B Fabel 69 67 70; 207 - V Singh (Fij) 67 73 67, T Pernice Jnr 71 68 68; 208 - R Mediate 70 71 67, J Ozaki (Jpn) 67 71 70, D Forsman 68 67 73; 209 - M Christie 70 71 68, S Gump 71 69 69, B Geiberger 69 71 69, B Estes 70 70 69, N Henke 66 73 70, P Stewart 72 65 72, H Sutton 67 69 73, A Doyle 69 67 73.
Others: 210 - T Woods 72 68 70, F Nobilo (NZ) 69 71 70. 99274647
