On a punishing Oakmont course famed for crowning first-time major winners, Sam Burns finds himself on the brink of joining a historic list.Seven first-time major winners at Oakmont include 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus,

Sam Burns has the lead in the U.S. Open on a rain-soaked Oakmont course and faces his biggest test. The 28-year-old from Louisiana has never contended in 20 previous majors.

Burns, a 28-year-old from Louisiana, has five PGA Tour titles, the last one more than two years ago. Despite that, he leads the quartet under par through 54 holes.

Burns shot 69 to finish at 4-under-par 206, one shot clear of J.J. Spaun (69) and Adam Scott (67, matching the day's low round with Carlos Ortiz). Viktor Hovland (70) is 1-under and Ortiz is even par.

Sam Burns is the 54-hole leader and the betting favorite entering the final round of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Burns has a one-shot advantage over Adam Scott and J.J. Spaun. Viktor Hovland is solo fourth,

Oakmont Country Club doesn’t yield much, especially holes-in-one. Prior to Friday, just one competitor in nine previous U.S. Opens at Oakmont had recorded an ace. That was Scott Simpson on the par-3 16th hole during the first round in 1983.