Aloha, Ore. ? Jim Ahern birdied three of the final four holes for a 4-under 68 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the third round of Jeld-Wen Tradition, the final major this season on the Champions Tour.

Ahern was at 14-under 202 after 54 holes heading into today’s final round at the Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club west of Portland.

Second-round leader Tom Watson faltered with four bogeys to finish a stroke back at 13-under with a 1-over 73. Tom Kite and Morris Hatalsky each shot 5-under 67s to join Watson at 13-under.

Hale Irwin, the winningest senior with 37 tour victories, shot a 2-under 70 despite trouble with back spasms and was alone at 12-under.

It was a roller-coaster round for Watson, the second-round leader by four strokes.

Bogey-free for the first two days of the tournament, Watson dropped his first shot on the par-3 No. 2 hole Saturday — then bogeyed the par-4 third hole to narrow the field. Ahern birdied the No. 3 hole to come within a stroke.

But Watson had back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth holes to climb back to 14-under. Bogeys on the No. 12 and No. 13 holes, both par-4s, dropped Watson two stokes and allowed Irwin and Kite to pull even. From there it was a tug-of-war among the leaders for dominance.

Watson shot a 62 Friday to set a Tradition record with a second-round 14-under 130. He broke Phil Rodgers’ start in 1991 and Gil Morgan’s 1997 score at Desert Mountain in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Defending champions Jim Thorpe had a 4-under 68 and was three strokes off the lead at 11-under.

Jack Nicklaus finished Saturday with a 4-under 68 to stay in contention at 9-under 207. It was the ninth and final tour event this season for Nicklaus, who has won the Tradition four times.

Tom Watson watches his drive on the seventh tee. Watson shot a 1-over-par 73 at the Jeld-Wen Tradition Saturday in Aloha, Ore. He trails leader Jim Ahern by one stroke entering today's final round.