Benton Harbor, Mich. – Ernie Els had very few fouls on Saturday and carded a 2-under 69 for birdie. KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Round.
Chalmers, a left-handed Australian, shot 66 while making just two bogeys, not a bad mark on the Harbor Shores course.
Els, a four-time major champion and one of the best of his generation, is in prime position to finally capture his first major title on the senior circuit. It was his 17th senior major, and his presence on the leaderboard was a surprise.
They were at 10-under 203.
England’s Richard Bland, a LIV golfer entering his first senior major from an unknown exemption category, started at par at 12 under, then began a rapid decline with tentative putting and shot a 74 to fall one shot behind. .
„I was lucky enough to be there,” Ells said. “You know, 10 under leads at the moment; It was a 12-under lead yesterday. I played solid. I didn’t play spectacularly, but I played solid enough to get me up there.
The Jack Nicklaus format had enough wind, tough back positions and tough greens that it took 83 players nearly six hours to complete the third round.
„Hopefully, we can go one better tomorrow,” Els said.
There can be a lot of movement on the leaderboard. Harbor Shores offered its share of birdies, especially on par 5s in low wind, but it didn’t take long for players to get out of position and chase themselves for par.
Even so, it was crowded at the top.
Plant and Chris DeMarco, whose round of 71 did not make birdie on the back nine, were one shot behind. Australia’s Richard Greene had two eagles and only managed a 70 after a bogey on the final hole.
The four players three shots back include defending champion Steve Stricker, former Open champion Stewart Sink and Jason Caron, a former PGA Tour player and one of the club pros competing in the Senior PGA Championship.
Chalmers took the lead before getting a „little scratch” on his golf back nine. Starting at 6, he reeled off five straight birdies. It was the control of the irons that made him think he had a good chance of capturing his first senior major.
„My driver wasn’t very comfortable today, but I was very comfortable in every other part of my game,” Chalmers said. „So, if I can leave it tomorrow, see if we can go out there and compete. It’s looking pretty good at the moment, so hopefully it’ll be an exciting day.
He struggled with the gentle wind, distance control and his putting. He made four bogeys in a six-hole stretch around the turn — he made par on the downwind, par-5 ninth, which felt like a bogey — and found himself two shots behind.
He birdied the par-3 17th to get within one of Ells and Chalmers, and that gave him a dose of perspective. Part of him is happy to be on the field. He is not known to exempt players who have won in the last five years on the European Tour once.
LIV Golf conflicted with Bedminster, so Plant was unable to use it last year. But this year he’s been able to capitalize on it, and he’s one shot behind for the final round.
„If somebody gave you a shot earlier in the week, you probably would have taken it. It’s not as good right now, but you have to keep going,” Plant said. „I’ve been around long enough to know you’re going to have some bad days. Definitely you. But now do some work and try to do a little better.