Aberdeen, Scotland (SportsNetwork.com) - Justin Rose and Marc Warren both had strong days on Saturday and they share the lead heading into the final round at the Scottish Open.
Rose tied for the best round of the day with a 5-under 66, while Warren was right behind him with a 67. The duo stands one shot ahead at 10-under 203 at Royal Aberdeen.
Having won his last start at the PGA Tour's Quicken Loans National two weeks ago, Rose is seeking his second straight victory. Warren, who is looking to become the first Scotsman to win the Scottish Open since Colin Montgomerie did it in 1999, is going for his third win on the European Tour.
Warren held a 3-shot lead with four holes to go at this event in 2012, but he struggled down the stretch and had to settle for a third-place finish at Castle Stuart.
Kristoffer Broberg, who started Saturday in a three-way tie for the lead with Warren and Ricardo Gonzalez, is one shot back at 9-under after shooting a 68. Tyrrell Hatton (66) is alone in fourth place and he is three shots back at 7- under 206.
Gonzalez shot an even-par 71 for the second straight day and he is tied for fifth with Warren's fellow Scotsman Craig Lee (66) at 6-under.
First-round leader Rory McIlroy rebounded from his 7-over 78 on Friday with a 3-under 68 on Saturday. He is seven back at 3-under. Reining champion Phil Mickelson shot a 70 and is at 2-under 211.
Rose began the day one shot back of the leaders, and he did not make much of a move until the back nine. Rose made just one birdie at the sixth and he rounded out his front nine with eight pars.
The 33-year-old Englishman started to pick things up on the back nine, making three straight birdies from No. 10 to put him at minus-4 for the day.
Rose dropped his first shot of the day with a bogey at No. 14, but he responded quickly by pouring in back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16. He ended his round with two pars to record one of four 66s on the day.
"Today and my second round at Congressional are two of the best rounds I have played all year. I'm really happy with the way the game has progressed throughout the week," Rose said. "It would be great to win tomorrow. I'm on a nice run at the moment and to keep it going would be fantastic."
Warren was nearly the opposite of Rose. Warren carded four birdies on the front nine and he played the back nine at even-par.
Playing in the final group, Warren began his day with back-to-back birdies at one and two. He made three straight pars before another pair of birdies at six and seven moved him to 4-under on the day. He rounded out his front nine with two pars.
Warren kept going strong after making the turn with birdies at 10 and 13, but he started to go the wrong way with a bogey at No. 14. Still, Warren held a 1- shot lead heading to the final hole, but he tripped up yet again and made bogey, dropping him into a tie for first with Rose.
"On the front nine I played really well, really in control of what I was doing," Warren said. "It was a little bit scrappy towards the end there, but I'm tied going into tomorrow and playing with a major champion. I'm in a great position, a very exciting position as well."
NOTES: With a win, Rose would move to No. 3 in the world rankings having won at Congressional two weeks ago as well ... Scotland's Lee finished his third round with five birdies and no bogeys, meaning he has made just one bogey in his last 40 holes ... Paul Waring, who is 1-over 214 for the week after a 73 on Saturday, has made an eagle on each of the par-5s this week, including eagles at two and six in the third round.
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