Monty Up by Three as Lehman Falters at Senior PGA Championship


While 36-hole leader Tom Lehman ballooned to a 6-over 78 on the difficult Pete Dye Course, defending champion Colin Montgomerie held steady on Saturday, posting a 2-under 70 to take a three-stroke lead at the Senior PGA Championship in French Lick, Ind.

Montgomerie, a 51-year-old Scotsman who also won the U.S. Senior Open last year, began his round with a bogey. But from that point forward, the 31-time European Tour winner posted three birdies to reach 5-under 211, three shots clear of fellow World Golf Hall of Fame member, Germany's Bernhard Langer, who shot a 69 that included an eagle on the par-4 eighth when he holed out from 162 yards, four birdies and three bogeys.

After years of being labeled as "the best player never to have won a major" on the PGA Tour, Montgomerie has found new life on the Champions Tour. "It was frustrating to come to these championships and walk off with the runner-up's medal," he told reporters. "I've done that five times. You try your damndest and you come up a shot light.

"I'm more relaxed now. I'm more relaxed than I was. My temperament is more consistent and I think that's helping. I'm enjoying it, I really am. I'm a great believer that if you enjoy something you're usually quite good at it."

Trailing Monty by four are Scott Verplank, who shot a 70, Mexico's Esteban Toledo (73) and Brian Henninger (74). The top-five are the only players under par heading into the final round.

Tied for sixth at even-par 216 are Steve Jones, who matched the low third round of 68, Woody Austin (72) and Scotsman Sandy Lyle (70). Ian Woosnam, who also shot 68, Skip Kendall (71), Tom Pernice, Jr. (71) and Paul Goydos (72) share ninth at 217.

Lehman carded a stellar 5-under 67 Friday to begin the third round with a one-stroke lead over Montgomerie. But the 56-year-old Minnesotan couldn't keep it going Saturday, recording only two birdies against eight bogeys on the tough layout.

Lehman fell into a tie for 13th at 2-over 218 with the winner of last week's Regions Tradition (also a major on the over-50 circuit), Jeff Maggert, Taiwan's Chien-Soon Lu and France's Jean Francois Remesy.

Lehman's woes came on the greens, where he had three three-putts and 34 putts Saturday. "I just didn't make them," the three-time Champions Tour major winner lamented.

With the difficulty of the course, designed by Indiana's own Pete Dye, Montgomerie knows his three-stroke lead is far from assuring a third major in two years on the Champions Tour. "There's a potential double around every corner here. Long day tomorrow. There's a seven-mile walk, and the emotions will go up and down like a roller coaster."

The top club pro is Jerry Haas, who posted an even-par 72 and is tied for 17th at 3-over 219. Haas outplayed his brother, veteran touring pro Jay, who dropped into a tie for 49th at 224 following a 77. The siblings began Saturday with the same 36-hole score of 147.

Jerry Haas, the Wake Forest golf coach, is three strokes ahead Ed Kirby of Rhode Island for the Low Club Professional honors. "It's strange, but it [a good round] was out there today," Haas told PGA.com. "You have to drive it well. I drove it just in the right rough on No. 8 and made six. I drove it in the rough on a couple other holes and I couldn't get to the green. I'm not strong enough to get it out of there. You have to get it out of the rough and back into the fairway."

For all the scores, visit http://www.pga.com/seniorpga/scoring/leaderboard.