Bernhard Langer of Germany recorded a 4-under-par 66 to take a three-stroke lead over Kenny Perry after three rounds of the Constellation Senior Players Championship at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh.
Langer, the two-time Masters champion, bounced back from two bogeys in the first five holes with six birdies in the next 11, including three in a row through No. 16. He did it with a repaired driver, which he noticed was broken on the 18th hole on Friday.
“There’s always slight doubts,” said Langer, who has won 20 times on the Champions Tour, including two majors, but never the Senior Players. “You’re putting something together. They say (the driver) is the same, but you’re never sure it’s the same. … I was convinced it was very close to the same. You don’t want it to get into your head.”
Perry, who has won three Champions Tour major titles in the last two seasons including the Senior Players last year, followed a 63 with a third-round 65 that included an eagle and six birdies.
Joe Durant, the first-round leader with a 64, shot 67 and was four strokes behind in a tie for third with left-hander Russ Cochran, who posted a 63, and Bill Glasson, who came in with a 68.
Jeff Sluman carded a 64 and was four strokes back in solo sixth, and Michael Allen of San Mateo and Nevada-Reno shot 69 and was another shot behind in a tie for seventh with John Riegger, who also had a 69.
