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Colin Montgomerie goes three clear in Senior PGA Championship

Colin Montgomerie tees off on the second hole at French Lick
Image: Colin Montgomerie tees off on the second hole at French Lick

Colin Montgomerie is on course to defend his Senior PGA Championship title after moving into a three-shot lead after the third round.

The 51-year-old Scot went clear at the top of the leaderboard on five-under 211 after firing a two-under 70 at French Lick in Indiana.

Montgomerie, who triumphed at Harbor Shores in Michigan last year when he also won the US Senior Open, started the day in a share of second place with American Brian Henninger, one shot behind halfway leader Tom Lehman.

He made a bad start with a bogey at the opening hole, but that proved to be the only blemish on his card as he picked up birdies at the ninth, 11th and 18th.

Germany’s Bernhard Langer, a four-time winner in senior majors, is Montgomerie’s nearest pursuer on two under after shooting a three-under 69, which included an eagle two at the par-four eighth.

American Scott Verplank (70), Mexico’s Esteban Toledo (73) and Henninger (74) share third place on one under.

US Senior PGA Championship

Henninger made a triple bogey eight on the 16th to drop out of a share of the lead with Montgomerie, his second shot darting right into deep rough where the ball was declared lost.

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Lehman had an even worse Saturday as a six-over 78, which included eight bogeys, saw him slump to two over.

British duo Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam both had encouraging rounds, the former moving into a tie for sixth place on level par after a 70 and the latter posting a joint-best-of-the-day round of 68 which put him on one over.

Montgomerie is not taking victory for granted despite having daylight between himself and the rest of the field.

"There's a potential double around every corner here," he said. "Long day ahead on Sunday. There's a seven-mile walk, and the emotions will go up and down like a rollercoaster."

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