Colin Montgomerie holed a lengthy birdie putt at the last to lead the US Senior PGA Championship heading into the final round.
The 50 year old Scot, five times a runner-up in Major Championships without winning, carded a three under par 68 at Harbor Shores.
A birdie at the third was cancelled out by a bogey four holes later, but birdies at the 11th, 12th and 14th helped Montgomerie come home in just 32.
There was a dropped shot at the short 17, but Montgomerie responded with a 25 foot effort at the next.
That took the 2010 winning Ryder Cup Captain and eight-time European Number One to seven under for the week, one ahead of Germany’s Bernhard Langer, with the two European heading out in the final group.
“It's just great to come out here and to contend,” said Montgomerie. “The crowd were great today. Playing with a European, we're off last tomorrow, two Europeans out there playing in an away venue. And the crowd have really been fantastic since I joined the Champions Tour. Everyone has been very hospitable and charming in every way.
“So it's been a delight since I joined the Champions Tour and I look forward to playing golf tomorrow. It's a very good golf course, you've got to pinpoint your iron play and I would love to win, of course. I've said that when I first joined the Champions Tour, I would love to win anywhere, any time. If I put myself in positions, as I have this year, the door will open hopefully once.
“Now whether it happens tomorrow or whether it happens down the road, I don't know.”
Langer, who along with Montgomerie had been part of a six-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage in Michigan, had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in his round of 69.
“It's always fun playing with Colin and we go way back,” said Langer. “We played many times on the European Tour around the world and also on the Ryder Cup we were partners on a number of occasions, so we know each other's games pretty well and our caddies know each other, so it's fun being out with him and this will be four days in a row.
“I still need to play very aggressive tomorrow, smart aggressive, as I call it, take my chances, because Colin is playing very solid golf and there's a whole bunch of other guys. If any of them post a six or seven under in front of us then we have our work cut out to just stay in touch.
“So there are a lot of tough holes out there, some very good pin positions, and it will take some really good golf to be the champion at the end of the day.”
Americans Bart Bryant and Marco Dawson share third with Japan’s Kiyoshi Murota on five under, with South African David frost and US Ryder Cup Captain Tom Watson amongst those tied for sixth on three under.
Denmark’s Steen Tinning, who also shared the overnight lead, slipped to a 74 and back to one under.
