Pavin eyes first win in a decade

Pavin, a former US Open champion, has not won since 1996

R3 LEADERBOARD:
US unless stated
-17 C Pavin
-15 J Kelly
-14 DJ Trahan, F Lickliter
-12 B Andrade, N Green (Aus), S Micheel

Corey Pavin will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the US Bank Championship in Milwaukee after carding a two-under 68 in the third round.

The 46-year-old American has not won a PGA Tour title since his victory at the Colonial in 1996.

Compatriot Jerry Kelly leads the chasing pack at the Brown Deer course on 15 under par.

"I'm not out here to finish 20th every week, I want to win a golf tournament," said Pavin, the 1995 US Open champion.

"I've been working really hard for the last 10 years."

Pavin has been in control of the tournament since he carded a record for the best nine holes in PGA Tour history. He birdied eight of the first nine holes en route to a 61.

I'm striking it well - it's just a matter of getting it done tomorrow Jerry Kelly

One of 77 players who needed to finish his second round earlier on Saturday, Pavin birdied three of his last five holes to grab a four-shot lead on 15 under at the halfway point.

His two-round score matched the lowest in tour history, set by Tiger Woods in 2000 and matched by Mark Calcavecchia and Tom Lehman a year later.

Pavin found it harder going in the third round, though, bogeying the fourth, fifth and 10th.

That allowed Kelly, who carded a 64, to close the gap.

"I'm striking it well," Kelly said. "I'm just going to stay in position. It's just a matter of getting it done tomorrow."

Frank Lickliter also carded a bogey-free 64 to sit three shots off the lead along with DJ Trahan, who hit a 65.

Nathan Green, who started the third round in a tie for third, dropped into a three-way tie for fifth with Shaun Micheel (65) and Billy Andrade (66) at 12 under.