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Edmond, Okla. • Several years ago, a rare skin disorder left Gene Sauers unsure if he would survive. Now he has a chance to win the U.S. Senior Open.
Sauers crept up on the field and shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds at Oak Tree National. He moved to 7 under, passing front-runners Bernhard Langer, Scott Dunlap and Colin Montgomerie along the way.
The journey to this opportunity is what makes Sunday's final round extra special for the 51-year-old Sauers. He said a reaction to a wrongly prescribed medication caused Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a disorder that burned the skin on his arms and legs from the inside out.
While he was in the hospital for seven weeks recovering, he pictured his golf swing. He got out of the hospital in June 2011 and eventually returned to the course.
"The good Lord said I'm going to give you another chance," Sauers said. "Bogey doesn't matter that much anymore. That's when I learned to have a great time and tried to hit everything I was capable of doing, and it worked out today."
Langer and Dunlap are tied for second at 4 under. Montgomerie is another stroke back in fourth.
It looked as if Montgomerie might run away from the field early on in the third round. He opened with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 to jump out to a four-shot lead over Langer, who by then had moved from third to second.
PGA Tour
In Silvis, Ill., Brian Harman had two eagles in a 6-under 65 on Saturday that gave him a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the John Deere Classic.
Harman's solid performance got him to 17-under 196 for the tournament at TPC Deere Run. Three-time winner Steve Stricker is alone in second, one stroke better than Scott Brown heading into the final round.
Women's British Open
In Southport, England, Inbee Park shot a 4-under 68 and took the lead in the Women's British Open after a late penalty against Ahn Sun-Ju. Park was at 4-under 212 at Royal Birkdale, one shot clear of Ahn, Shanshan Feng of China and Suzann Pettersen going into the final round. —
Saturday's scores
U.S. Senior Open
At Oak Tree National Golf Club
Edmond, Okla.
Purse • TBA ($2.6 million in 2013)
Yardage • 7,219; Par • 71
Third-round leaders
a-amateur
Gene Sauers 69-69-68 — 206
Bernhard Langer 69-69-71 — 209
Scott Dunlap 69-68-72 — 209
Colin Montgomerie 65-71-74 — 210
Marco Dawson 66-76-69 — 211
Vijay Singh 69-71-71 — 211
Jeff Sluman 70-69-72 — 211
Woody Austin 72-70-71 — 213
David Frost 71-71-71 — 213
Peter Senior 73-73-68 — 214
Rocco Mediate 70-74-71 — 215
Russ Cochran 70-74-71 — 215
Esteban Toledo 73-70-72 — 215
Mark Brooks 68-71-76 — 215
Loren Roberts 73-72-71 — 216
Tom Kite 73-70-73 — 216
Kirk Triplett 69-72-75 — 216
Joey Sindelar 72-71-74 — 217
Wes Short Jr. 73-68-76 — 217
Tom Byrum 71-75-72 — 218
Michael Allen 73-73-72 — 218
Scott Hoch 75-71-72 — 218
Brad Bryant 73-72-73 — 218
Sonny Skinner 73-70-75 — 218
Olin Browne 70-72-76 — 218
Tom Lehman 72-69-77 — 218
Doug Garwood 70-69-79 — 218
Lance Ten Broeck 70-69-79 — 218
a-Jeff Wilson 70-76-73 — 219
Chris Williams 72-72-75 — 219
Steve Pate 72-72-75 — 219
Joe Durant 71-73-75 — 219
Roger Chapman 79-70-71 — 220
Jose Coceres 75-74-71 — 220
a-Mike McCoy 74-74-72 — 220
Duffy Waldorf 75-73-72 — 220
Fred Funk 70-77-73 — 220
Steen Tinning 72-75-73 — 220
Corey Pavin 72-73-75 — 220
Robin Byrd 77-67-76 — 220
Kenny Perry 75-74-72 — 221
Gil Morgan 72-76-73 — 221
Kevin Sutherland 73-72-76 — 221
Mark O'Meara 75-74-73 — 222
Bruce Vaughan 75-74-73 — 222
Rod Spittle 71-78-73 — 222
John Riegger 77-71-74 — 222
Bob Tway 74-73-75 — 222
Bill Glasson 73-73-76 — 222
Barry Lane 74-69-79 — 222
PGA-John Deere Classic
At TPC Deere Run
Silvis, Ill.
Purse • $4.7 million
Yardage • 7,268; Par • 71 (35-36)
Third-round leaders
a-amateur
Brian Harman 63-68-65 — 196
Steve Stricker 68-65-64 — 197
Scott Brown 67-70-61 — 198
Tim Clark 72-63-64 — 199
Jerry Kelly 66-68-65 — 199
William McGirt 64-66-69 — 199
Zach Johnson 63-67-69 — 199
Jhonattan Vegas 69-68-63 — 200
Ryan Moore 66-67-67 — 200
Johnson Wagner 66-65-69 — 200
Brad Fritsch 70-68-63 — 201
Charles Howell III 66-68-67 — 201
Steven Bowditch 64-67-70 — 201
Daniel Summerhays 69-68-65 — 202
David Toms 65-70-67 — 202
Jordan Spieth 71-64-67 — 202
Chad Campbell 69-71-62 — 202
Bo Van Pelt 67-69-67 — 203
Bud Cauley 67-67-69 — 203
D.H. Lee 72-66-66 — 204
Troy Merritt 68-70-66 — 204
Scott Langley 69-70-65 — 204
Brian Davis 72-68-64 — 204
Shawn Stefani 73-67-64 — 204
Rory Sabbatini 63-70-71 — 204
Women's British Open
At Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Southport, England
Purse • $3 million
Yardage • 6,458; Par • 72
Third-round leaders
a-amateur
Inbee Park 72-72-68 — 212
Suzann Pettersen 72-73-68 — 213
Shanshan Feng 73-71-69 — 213
Sun-Ju Ahn 75-67-71 — 213
Amelia Lewis 72-71-71 — 214
Julieta Granada 72-70-72 — 214
Charley Hull 73-76-66 — 215
Stacy Lewis 71-74-70 — 215
Eun-Hee Ji 74-70-71 — 215
Amy Yang 71-72-72 — 215
Beatriz Recari 74-67-74 — 215