Coceres close to win and Open spot

Jose Coceres of Argentina put himself in good position to win his third PGA Tour title, shooting two 3-under 68s to take a two-stroke lead in the John Deere Classic.

Coceres, whose only bogey in 25 holes Saturday came on his final hole, had a 15-under 198 total. Greg Chalmers was second after finishing off a third-round 69 with a birdie.

Both Coceres and Chalmers finished the rain-delayed second round on Saturday morning, with Coceres taking a one-stroke lead over Chalmers into the third round.

Steve Stricker (64) was four strokes back along with 50-year-old Jay Haas (67), Robert Gamez (67), Joe Durant (67), Mark Hensby (69), Stuart Cink (67) and Vaughn Taylor (70). Defending champion Vijay Singh had a 67 to top a group at 10-under.

Coceres, trying to qualify for the British Open next week as the highest finisher not already exempt to Royal Troon, has only two bogeys in 54 holes on the TPC at Deere Run.

The 40-year-old, who played the back nine first in the third round, made few mistakes with the lead, and got going with a 4-foot birdie putt on the 13th. He later strung together three more birdies in five holes to extend his lead.

He hit 16 greens in regulation and needed 31 putts.

Coceres was runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2001 after victories at the Worldcom Classic and the National Car Rental Classic. But he broke his arm in 2002 and has struggled to regain his winning form.

Chalmers stayed in contention with solid play from the bunkers early in his round. The Australian left-hander found the sand on three of his first four holes, but managed to salvage par on each one -- chipping within an inch of the cup on the par-4 11th.

The most imaginative shot of the day went to Singh.

Singh hit his drive far left into a hazard on the par-4 11th. Instead of taking a penalty drop into thick rough, he dropped on a cart path and the ball remained on the cement surface.

The gamble paid off.

Singh knocked his approach cleanly off the path and onto the green to set up a par-saving, 10-foot putt.

Taylor, who began the round two shots off the lead, had a woeful start, but managed to recover to stay in contention.

Playing in the final group, the 28-year-old rookie missed a tap-in for par on the 10th and had another three-putt bogey on the 12th. He regrouped at the 17th with the first of four birdies, including a 16-footer at the par-3 third.

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