Tim Herron takes over lead - U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee 2007

But Herron, the family man from Minneapolis who's been getting 5 a.m. wake-up calls from his kids, and Clark, the single guy who enjoys drinking local beers and playing darts, are enjoying their time together at the top of the U.S. Bank Championship leaderboard.

Herron birdied three of his last four holes Saturday to take a one stroke lead at 12-under after three rounds at the Brown Deer Golf Course. Clark matched him until the 18th hole.

"I guess we're playing against each other," Herron said. "But we're really just out there playing."

Clark, the boisterous South African who finished second last week at the John Deere Classic, said he and Herron do have a few things in common.

"He's got a good sense of humor, I've got a good sense of humor," Clark said. "I don't want to make it like we're a married couple out there. We just have a good time."

Herron, who has four PGA Tour victories, finished with a 65 to stand at 198 for the tournament. Clark (66) and second-round leader Joe Ogilvie (69) were tied for second one stroke back. Kenny Perry (67) was at 9-under, and Jeff Brehaut (65) and Charlie Wi (66) were four strokes behind.

The two Tims will be paired together again in Sunday's final round. They slogged through the front nine before Herron bogeyed No. 10 to fall to 9-under in a tie with Clark.

After a few more holes at par, the two challenged each other.

"With five or six holes to go, we said to each other we need to start making birdies," Clark said.

Then they did to begin pulling away from everyone but Ogilvie.

On the 15th, Herron made a 4-foot birdie putt and Clark answered with one from 3 feet. The next hole, Herron sank a 14-footer and Clark made another from 3 feet.

After pars on No. 17, Herron got up and down from the sand on the 18th hole to make birdie and move to 12-under. Clark couldn't match it, missing a 6-footer.

Herron has never won here but tied for third in 2001 and second in '02. He's been an adopted crowd favorite because Wisconsinites Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker are playing in the British Open.

Herron's whole family has been following his play, including his in-laws and three young children. He said he isn't disappointed he skipped the British Open, even if it means the kids wake him up at 5 a.m. despite his late afternoon tee times.

"You have to be at a major to win majors, but this is close to home and I enjoy being in the Midwest," Herron said.

Clark has never won on the PGA Tour, finishing second in the 2006 Masters. He's been dealing with a bulging disc in his neck, but took a cortisone shot three weeks ago in an effort to make his third consecutive Presidents Cup team and reach the playoffs in the FedExCup competition.

"It's been holding up the last couple of weeks, no pain," Clark said. "I think (the cortisone shot) made a big difference to allow me to go out and hit the shots I'm wanting to hit."

Ogilvie, who came into Saturday's play leading by two strokes, went 0-for-11 on putts in the 15 to 20 foot range, including misses for birdies at Nos. 2-6. After playing the first 42 holes with only one bogey, he carded one on No. 7 and another on the eighth.

Ogilvie rebounded with an eagle-birdie combination on the 15th and 16th holes to move back to 11-under.

"Hopefully that's my bad round of the week," he said.

Perry, a nine-time tour winner and the 2003 champion at this tournament, hasn't had a victory since 2005 after having right knee surgery last year to fix a torn ligament.

The rehab took Perry to the brink of retirement because he said he had to learn how to make his right leg flex around his swing again.

But he regained his form with a 63 in the final round of the Memorial last month to tie for third, and has reeled off three more finishes of 15th or better heading into this tournament. Perry has played 13 straight rounds under par.

Wi birdied the final hole to join Brehaut at 8-under. Brehaut had two eagles on Saturday and four for the tournament. A five-time participant in qualifying school, Brehaut has only made three cuts in 11 events so far this year and last won a Nationwide Tour event in 1997.

"Four eagles on the week, that's a year's worth for me," Brehaut said. "It's been a little bit crazy. I haven't hit it that great, but I've capitalized on my good ones and kind of got away with some of my poor ones."