PGA: Patrick Rodgers holds two-shot lead at John Deere Classic

Patrick Rodgers carded a 3-under-par 68 on Saturday to maintain his two-stroke lead through three rounds of the John Deere Classic at Silvis, Ill.

Rodgers, who surged to the top of the leaderboard with a superb 64 in the second round, moved to 16-under 197 entering Sunday's final round at TPC Deere Run.

Seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, the 25-year-old Rodgers had five birdies and two bogeys in his round to stay two shots clear of fast-closing Daniel Berger and Scott Stallings.

"This is a nice course to play with the lead to be honest with you because you have to keep the pedal down all day, 16 under is not going to win tomorrow so I need to go out and make a lot of birdies," Rodgers said. "It was nice to be able to have that mindset today. You're not ready holding on, you're still trying to be aggressive and make birdies."

Rodgers also held the 54-hole lead at the Farmers Insurance Open in February before finishing in a tie for fourth place.

Berger, who won at the FedEx St. Jude Classic last month, birdied seven of his first 11 holes en route to matching the best score of the day with an 8-under 63 as he pursues his third victory of the year.

Stallings, who opened with a 71, shot his second consecutive 64 to join Berger at 199. Stallings had just one birdie on the front side before shooting a blistering 30 on the back that including four birdies and an eagle at the par-5 17th.

Nicholas Lindheim is alone in fourth place after shooting a 66 while Jamie Lovemark (66), J.J. Henry (68) and Bryson DeChambeau (70) are in a three-way tie for fifth at 12-under 201.

A cluster of 10 players, including local favorite Zach Johnson (70), Charles Howell III (70) and Rory Sabbatini (67), are bunched five shots off the lead.