Jon Mills, the "other" Canadian on the PGA Tour, is in line for his highest finish and best payday since returning to the big time this season.

The 30-year-old Oshawa, Ont., native shot a six-under 64 for a three-round total of 200 on Saturday to sit just a shot back of co-leaders Nick Flanagan and Gavin Coles at the U.S. Bank Championship tournament in Milwaukee.

And while most of the big names are over in England playing The Open Championship - including top Canadians Stephen Ames and Mike Weir - that's not going to matter to Mills, who has been steadily improving this year.

Starting on the back nine while the third-day leaders were all coming through the front, Mills shot a 4-under 30 on the front side and didn't even realize he was moving into contention until the day was almost done.

"It wasn't until the fifth hole [of his second nine] that I saw I was maybe one back," he said. "I kept kind of pushing forward, because you know there's a lot of birdies out there."

Mills earned his PGA card for the first time in 2006, but made just six cuts in 27 events, earning $65,494.

That sent him back to the lower level Nationwide Tour for 2007, where he finished fourth overall.

Earning his PGA card again, Mills started this season slowly but has been vastly improved over the last few months, making 13 of 20 cuts, slipping into the top-25 on three occasions and earning $405,644.

He's still 132nd overall, but that could change in a hurry this weekend.

Mills is tied with Richard S. Johnson of Sweden, George McNeill and Ken Duke of the U.S.

Flanagan and Coles, at 199, are enjoying leading while keeping an eye on countryman Greg Norman's improbable run at the British Open, where he leads into the final round at 53 years of age.

Nor do they feel overshadowed.

"That would be definitely OK with me," Coles said. "I'm playing in America because Greg Norman showed us that we could play here.

"Norman, back in the '90s, was the guy we all looked up to," he said. "It's going to be unbelievable and I hope he does it."

Five players were two shots back at 9 under, including defending champion Joe Ogilvie, whose 68 on Saturday puts him in position to win the tournament for the second straight year.

Kenny Perry, whose decision to play the tournament instead of the British Open was panned by players and the media, shot a third-round 69 to get to 6 under.

With files from the Associated Press

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW