Henninger forges lead after three rounds

Brian Henninger has learned not to judge a day by its start.

Forced to complete his second round of the John Deere Classic this morning after weather delayed play on Friday, Henninger gathered himself for a 6-under-par 64 this afternoon for a three-stroke lead heading into the final round of the tournament.

"I didn't feel too great starting off," said Henninger, who was one of 31 players forced to come back this morning after thunderstorms suspended play on Friday. He played his last two holes in par for a 63, then shot a 64 to pull away from Mike Brisky, the 36-hole leader.

"I went back to my room and took about a half-hour nap," Henninger said. "I just wish I could have finished the second round last night. I wanted those holes to be over with.

"It's been a long time since I've been in this position," said Henninger, whose last victory was in 1994. "If I can enjoy myself tomorrow and stay patient, I'll win the tournament. If I get ahead of myself, I'll struggle."

He tied the tournament's 54-hole record of 193 set by Blaine McCallister in 1987. The 72-hole record is 21-under by David Frost in 1993.

Henninger dropped three strokes behind Brisky with a bogey at the par-4 fourth hole, then strung together three birdies and an eagle over a five-hole stretch beginning at the par-4 seventh, where he made a 3-foot putt for birdie.

Henninger got within two strokes of Brisky with a short birdie putt at the par-4 ninth and tied for the lead with a chip-in from behind the green for eagle at the par-5 10th.

"The lie wasn't really too bad," Henninger said. "I knew I could get the ball within 10 feet of the hole, but I never expected (to make eagle). The stuff that's unexpected out here is a fun thing with golf. The adrenaline picked up after that and I really felt good the last seven or eight holes."

Birdies at Nos. 11 and 13 got him to 16-under and he capped his round with a birdie at the 15th.

Brisky shot a 68 and was at 14-under. He birdied Nos. 3 and 7 but was unable to generate much on the back nine, playing even-par golf.

"Nothing really bad happened, I just couldn't get the ball close," Brisky said. "I gave myself too many 30-footers and you can't make all of those. I'm not really disappointed. After the seventh hole I just fell asleep and didn't do anything."

Robert Damron and J.L. Lewis each shot 65s and joined Brisky at 196.

Damron birdied Nos. 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 17. His lone bogey came at the par-4 13th.

Lewis, who had one birdie and one bogey on the front, got going on the back nine with birdies at Nos. 10, 12, 14, 15 and 18.

Kenny Perry, who shared the 18-hole lead, made one of the biggest moves of the day by matching Henninger's 64. He was at 198, joined by David Peoples, who shot 66.

"I did what I wanted to do," Perry said. "I wanted to shoot 6-under or better today to just have a chance for tomorrow. So, hopefully, I can go out there and play a similar round and post a good number and hopefully win this thing."

Perry went out in 31 and chopped three more strokes off par before closing with a bogey at 18.

Pete Jordan and Mike Standly also shot 64s and were at 11-under 199. Chris Perry's whose 63 was the best score of the third round, was at 201.

Defending champion Steve Jones was nine strokes back after a 68 today.

AP