Johnson vaults into lead with 65

Richard Johnson fired a seven-under-par 65 on Saturday to vault atop the leaderboard at 16- under par after three rounds of the Buy.com Ozarks Open. Pat Perez and Pat Bates share second place at minus-15.

Johnson is 62nd on the Buy.com money list, having made the cut in only seven of his previous 20 starts. However, he has two top-10 finishes in his last three events, but has yet to win this year.

Johnson's lone tour win came last year at the Florida Classic and he will be trying to become just the fifth player to win this year when owning sole possession of the third-round lead.

"It's better to be up front then catching them from behind," said Johnson. "If I go out and shoot 65 that means someone has to shoot 64. I was leading at the Florida Classic, too."

Bates, who shot a six-under 66 on Saturday, has come from behind in both of his tour wins -- the 1994 Dakota Dunes Open and the 1997 Colorado Classic.

"I've won twice and I came from behind," said Bates. "I like my position. I like finishing 18 first. I've actually had the third- round lead three or four times and haven't won."

Bates shared the third-round lead earlier this season at the Hershey Open and finished tied for seventh.

Perez, in his rookie season, also notched a six-under 66 for his share of second place.

"I'm just pleased to be up there at the top," said Perez, who finished tied for fourth three weeks ago at the Wichita Open. "It's nice to be up there finally after complaining about every week 'what does it take, what does it take.' Now, I kind of know what it takes to do it. You have to hit some good shots and make some putts."

Monday qualifier Brad Klapprott posted the best round of the day with an eight-under 64 and is alone in fourth place at 14-under.

Second-round leader Matt Peterson managed only a one-under 71 on Saturday and is three shots back at 13-under, along with Rocky Walcher and Greg Parker. Parker has posted three rounds in the 60s -- 65 on Thursday and a pair 69s.

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