Langer Running Away with Senior Players Championship


After opening with two straight 6-under 65s, Bernard Langer doubled his four-stroke lead entering the third round of the Senior Players Championship after carding a 67 at historic Belmont Country Club in Massachusetts.

The 57-year-old German, the defending champion of the Champions Tour major, posted four birdies and no bogeys to reach 16-under 197, a whopping eight strokes ahead of Russ Cochran (71).

Langer won last year at Fox Chapel in Pittsburgh and is positioned to become the first player to successfully defend his title since Arnold Palmer in 1984 and '85. Langer, a two-time Masters' champion, has won 23 victories on the over-50 circuit, including four majors.

Sharing third at 206 are Americans Scott Verplank (66), Jeff Hart (67) and Guy Boros (69), and Scotsman Colin Montgomerie (67).

Tied for seventh at 207 are New England native Billy Andrade (66), Esteban Toledo (67), Olin Browne (68), Mark Brooks (68), Joe Durant (69), Kirk Triplett (69), Steve Pate (71) and Lee Janzen (71).

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.