Darren Clarke has made a big move up the leaderboard and goes into the final round inside the top 10 at the PGA Champions Tour’s Ascension Charity Classic at Norwood Hills Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri.
The 2011 Open champion’s opening round was a rollercoaster ride that somehow resulted in a level-par 71, but he came roaring from the traps on day two, going birdie, eagle, birdie over the opening three holes to get to -4 for the day and the week. Another birdie followed on the fifth and on one of the tougher Champions Tour setups, something incredible was on the cards.
He couldn’t keep the momentum going, however, and back-to-back bogeys on eight and nine took some of the shine off the incredible start.
His response was ideal and birdie at 10 was followed by another on 15, but a final bogey on the last took some of the flavour from his lunch, but the -4 round lifted him into the top 10 and he’s just four back heading into the final round.
First round leader Y.E. Yang shot a two-under 69 but now has company in the form of Stewart Cink at the top of the leaderboard at -8.
Cink got his first taste of Champions Tour success at the Ally Championship a fortnight ago, while 2009 PGA Championship winner and famed Tiger slayer Yang is still in search of his maiden victory on the seniors circuit.
In hot pursuit at -6 is record-setting Bernhard Langer who shot his age for the 17th time with a 67 coming less than two weeks after his 67th birthday. His score matched Clarke’s and Cink’s tallies for the round of the day.
Alongside Langer are Rod Pampling and Kevin Sutherland, with a further four including two-time major winner Angel Cabrera at -5.