WASHINGTON (AFP) — Defending champion Davis Thompson closed with back-to-back birdies to seize a one-stroke lead after Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Tour John Deere Classic.

Thompson, trying to become the first back-to-back Deere winner since Steve Stricker took three from 2009-2011, fired a four-under par 67 to stand on 15-under 198 after 54 holes at windy TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

“Felt good. I was hitting it where I was looking the majority of the day,” Thompson said. “It was tricky. The wind made it tough.”

“I was pretty pleased with how things were going. I just wasn’t really scoring well on the front nine but then was able to finish strong. That was nice.”

The 26-year-old American sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the 14th hole to grab a share of the lead, then kept it with a tap-in birdie putt at the par-five 17th after missing an eight-foot eagle putt.

At 18, Thompson landed his approach just outside 10 feet from the hole and rolled in the clutch putt to take the lead alone.

“It was nice to make that to get the sole lead,” Thompson said. “Birdieing 17 and 18 is always great.”

Sharing second on 199 were fellow Americans Max Homa, Brian Campbell and David Lipsky plus Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo after all shot 68.