Cotner takes narrow lead into last day

Keoke Cotner fired a seven- under 65 to vault atop the leaderboard at 12-under-par 204 after Saturday's third round of the Buy.com Oregon Classic. Jody Bellflower is one shot back after carding a 69, while Ted Purdy is tied for third at 10-under with second-round leader Todd Barranger.

Cotner's 65 matched the Shadow Hills Country Club course record set by three players in the tournament's first year of 1998. The mark was equaled by Craig Kanada and Rob Bradley in Thursday's first round.

Cotner, a rookie on the Buy.com Tour this season, sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole to kick off a six birdie front nine. Although he only added one more birdie on the back, Cotner was able to make it through his second straight round without a bogey. In fact, the 29-year-old native of Mexico hasn't dropped a shot since his seventh hole of the first round, a span of 47 holes.

"Every week you hope it's your week," said Cotner, who is currently ranked 94th on the season money list with only seven cuts made in 17 starts. "I haven't had many rounds this year where I've made a lot of putts and today I did. That's how you win tournaments."

Cotner has finished in the top-10 twice this year, including a tie for fourth at last month's Forth Smith Classic. Two years ago, he recorded a final-round 66 to tie for 21st at Hawaiian Open on the PGA Tour. He earned a check for $18,000, the largest payday of his career.

Bellflower, who is also playing his first season on tour, finished the day with five birdies and two bogeys.

Purdy forged a 67 that included four birdies over the final six holes.

Barranger, who seemed to be in control when he made the turn with the lead at 12-under, bogeyed three of the first six holes on the back to slip from his perch. He managed to birdie the last hole for a round of even-par 72.

"I drove the ball poorly all day," Barranger admitted. "I hit it to a 78 but I putted it to about a 62. I made everything I looked at. I just didn't have that many looks."

Barranger has putted well all week, averaging just under 25 putts per round over the first three days.

Kanada, Tommy Biershenk, Jason Gore and Pat Perez are four shots back at minus-eight.

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