NOTRE DAME — Steve Stricker continues to burn up the Warren Golf Course and is leaving the 40th U.S. Senior Open field in his dust.

Stricker, playing in his first Senior Open, took a two-stroke lead into Saturday’s third round. When he wrapped up play 18 holes later, Stricker had a six-shot lead over his longtime friend after shooting a bogey-free 66.

Stricker’s lead after 54 holes is just one stroke short of the record set by Dave Stockton in winning the 1996 U.S. Senior Open over Hale Irwin. Stockton would end up winning by just two strokes.

The Wisconsin native destroyed the 54-hole scoring record with his total of 192. Kirk Triplett held the former record, which he set in 2017. Stricker could smash the 72-hole scoring record of 264 held by Kenny Perry, which he set in 2017.

“I think I’m just going to keep doing the same things I’ve been doing,” Stricker said. “My whole objective is to get it in the fairway, and then see what pins I feel comfortable shooting at or steering away from. That’s been the game plan, and I’ve been putting well. I’m swinging at it a little bit more confidently, feeling good with what I have in my hand. And I hit it well last week. I hit it well at the Memorial [in early June]. So, I’m kind of building on those tournaments.  One more day, if I can do the same thing [on Sunday], we’ll be in good shape.”

Defending champion David Toms is seven strokes back of Stricker at 11-under, while Bob Estes is eight strokes back.

“The golf course is definitely playing harder,” Toms said. “The greens were baked out a little bit today. It was starting to bounce. It’ll be tough to shoot a low number, but I know I can do it on this golf course. It’s just a matter of going out there and giving myself enough opportunities to shoot a low score.”

U.S. Senior Open notebook

• Steve Stricker’s one bogey is the fewest through 54 holes in a U.S. Senior Open. Kirk Triplett (2017), Craig Stadler (2004) and Hubert Green (2000) previously held the mark with two.

• Defending champion David Toms had 13 one-putt greens in Round 3.

• Tom Watson saw his streak of matching or bettering his age (69) end at two after the 1982 U.S. Open champion carded a 3-over 73 for a 54-hole total of even-par 210.

• While no amateurs qualified for the weekend, 11 players who were not fully exempt into the field managed to make the cut. It is the fewest in championship history. Previously, the lowest number of sectional qualifiers to make the cut was 14 in 2017.

• This year’s group is headlined by Gary Nicklaus, the son of four-time U.S. Open and two-time U.S. Senior Open champion Jack Nicklaus. Steve Jones, the 1996 U.S. Open champion, also was among that list along with Indiana native Jeff Gallagher.

• Sectional qualifier Ken Duke made the biggest jump on Saturday, moving from a tie for 42nd to a share of 14th, thanks to a 4-under 66. The low 15 and ties are fully exempt into the 2020 U.S. Senior Open at Newport (R.I.) Country Club.

• Darren Clarke was assessed a two-stroke penalty on the 10th hole on Thursday when his caddie Bradley Whittle, on the request from Clarke, moved a pole containing a permanent bird house that was in his intended line of play. By having his caddie bend the pole to the right, Clarke improved his line of play in breach of Rule 8.1a (Improving the Line of Play). Clarke signed for a 3-over 73.

• Play will be completed after Leader Publications deadline Sunday. See leaderpub.com for final round coverage.