Doug Garwood posted a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 to grab a one-stroke lead over Michael Allen going into the final round of the Principal Charity Classic at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa.
The 51-year-old Garwood, from Valencia and Fresno State, has never won on the PGA Tour or Champions Tour, but he got up-and-down for par from a greenside bunker on the final hole to stay on top of the leaderboard.
“I hit the classic fat shot that the unknown leader hits on 18,” said Garwood, whose best finish on the Champions Tour was a tie for second in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach last September. “And then after that it was a pretty simple sand shot and I hit it close.
“I’ve never been in this position before. I think what I usually do is I just try to play golf. I set a score, a goal for my round, and I just try to focus on one shot at a time and achieving that. The rest of the time, I can’t control what the other guys do. I’m sure I’ll be nervous. But that’s part of the deal.”
Allen, from San Mateo and Nevada-Reno, followed an opening 68 with a 66, recording five birdies on the back nine.
Tom Pernice Jr. of UCLA had six birdies in a 67 and was two shots back in a tie for third with first-round co-leader Mark Calcavecchia, who put up a 69 after opening with 66.
Wes Short Jr. who shared the 18-hole lead with Calcavecchia, could manage only a 70 and was another stroke behind in a tie for fifth with Joe Durant (67), Chien-Soon Lu (65) of Taiwan and John Riegger (68).
