Paul Broadhurst and Miguel Angel Jiménez remain in position to claim their second Senior Major Championship of the season as they lead Europe’s charge at the U.S. Senior Open Championship.
The pair sit four shots behind American Jerry Kelly after rounds of 69, one under par, and 73, three over par, respectively, on a tough day at The Broadmoor.
Englishman Broadhurst, winner of the KitchenAid PGA Seniors Championship in May, went out level par before he started the back nine with a bogey. However, the leader of the Staysure Tour Order of Merit holed back-to-back birdies on the 15thand 16thto card a one under par round and move to a share of eighth.
With players around him dropping shots, the two-time Senior Major champion was pleased work after round three.
“Anything under par around here on any given day is really good, so I'll always accept under par,” he said.
“I didn't play great today. Nothing like I played at the PGA but it's that sort of course. If you let it get to you, then you're going to shoot some numbers. I just try to be as calm as possible.
“The driver behaved itself a little better today. I missed a few, but I made a couple of nice birdies towards the end, 15, 16, where I hit good shots into the green. And making birdies on the back nine is a bonus, really.”
Jiménez, who claimed the first Senior Major of the season at Regions Tradition, had a disappointing day with the putter as he made four bogeys and just one birdie. But overnight leader Kelly faltered under the pressure and shot one over par to also drop back and leads by one ahead of compatriot David Toms.
“There's a bunch of players there and anyone can win,” Jiménez said. “I think the one who can beat the nerves, keep calm and hole more putts is the one who is going to win tomorrow. It's going to be a nice contest tomorrow.”
Fellow Staysure Tour member Colin Montgomerie, who triumphed at the Shipco Masters presented by Simon’s Golf Club at the start of June, shot a three under par round of 67 to join the European charge, as he finished Day Three at tied 11th. While last season’s two-time Senior Major winner Bernhard Langer shot one of the low rounds of the day with a four under par round of 66 to move up 38 places into a share of 17th.
England's Philip Golding, who shot a second round 67, three under par, to claim a share of fourth could not continue his fine work as he dropped back to 14thafter a disappointing three over par round of 73 on Day Three.
