Fowler in control at Close House
Australian Peter Fowler took a big step towards claiming back-to-back Senior Tour titles by moving four shots clear at the ISPS Handa PGA Seniors Championship with one round to play.
The 56 year old, who won last week in Jersey, signed for a third round four under par 67 at Close House in north-east England to reach 11 under par overall, well in front of Englishmen Philip Golding and Carl Mason, who carded rounds of 66 and 70 respectively.
Fowler faltered with a bogey on the second hole, but came back in fine style with three birdies and an eagle before the turn on the Lee Westwood course. He traded two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine and was very happy with his day’s work.
“It was very good and it’s always good when you’re leading and can notch up another good round, it’s a big help,” he said.
“I’ve just got to play a little bit more solid than I did today and hit more greens. I didn’t hit many on the back nine and I need to consolidate that.
“I’ve played better this week than I did last week and I’ve proved to myself the last couple of weeks that you don’t have to play great to get the job done - you’ve just got to hang in there.
“It would be ideal to get an early score, but it doesn’t always work out the way you plan it. An early birdie would be a big help. I’ve just got to play the whole game and be patient. If it all falls together then that’s great.”
Mason admitted he made a tentative start – he was two over par at the turn – but recovered well and remains in contention to extend his record as the tournament’s most prolific winner.
“I made a very nervy putt for birdie at the first hole from three feet and it was the most awful stroke,” he said. “It unsettled me a little bit. Then I played a few scrappy shots after that and was struggling a bit
“I couldn’t putt and made some bad swings but I was pleased I held on and had a good back nine. I was watching Peter putt and I remember the days when I used to putt like that.
“I’ve just got to play and make a lot of birdies and hope Peter doesn’t go mad, but he’s full of confidence and on form and will be tough to beat.”
THIRD ROUND SCORES, TOTALS
202 P Fowler (Aus) 68 67 67,
206 C Mason (Eng) 68 68 70, P Golding (Eng) 72 68 66,
207 G Manson (Aut) 69 73 65,
210 M Martin (Esp) 69 74 67,
211 P Walton (Irl) 70 70 71,
212 T Thelen (USA) 70 73 69,
213 A Bossert (Sui) 70 72 71, A Oldcorn (Sco) 74 70 69,
214 J Sallat (Fra) 68 71 75, A Franco (Par) 74 73 67, G Wolstenholme (Eng) 73 72 69,
215 G Emerson (Eng) 68 75 72, Y Nilsson (Swe) 74 69 72, C Monasterio (Arg) 73 74 68, P Linhart (Esp) 72 72 71, S Tinning (Den) 69 75 71, M Harwood (Aus) 70 74 71,
216 P Eales (Eng) 72 75 69, G Rusnak (USA) 77 66 73, M Mackenzie (Eng) 72 70 74, T Price (Aus) 70 76 70, A Forsbrand (Swe) 71 75 70,
217 F Mann (Sco) 72 72 73, M Litton (Wal) 74 72 71, J Berendt (Arg) 69 75 73, C Williams (RSA) 71 72 74, L Carbonetti (Arg) 70 73 74,
218 S Brown (Eng) 73 73 72, P Wesselingh (Eng) 73 72 73,
219 P Scott (Eng) 69 72 78, S Bennett (Eng) 72 73 74,
220 M Bianco (Ita) 76 67 77, M Cunning (USA) 73 73 74, J Harrison (Eng) 70 75 75, A Murray (Eng) 74 73 73, N Ratcliffe (Aus) 73 74 73, J Carriles (Esp) 73 72 75,
221 J Gould (Eng) 75 71 75, M McLean (Eng) 77 70 74, B Conser (USA) 73 76 72, M Davis (Eng) 73 71 77, R Drummond (Sco) 74 73 74, M Wharton (Eng) 73 74 74, W Grant (Eng) 75 75 71,
222 D Smyth (Irl) 75 74 73, N Job (Eng) 72 73 77, K Hutton (Sco) 76 73 73, G Ryall (Eng) 73 75 74, J Hall (Eng) 76 74 72, J Heggarty (Nir) 74 74 74,
223 S Torrance (Sco) 74 75 74, D Russell (Eng) 69 78 76, M Booth (Eng) 76 74 73,
224 T Charnley (Eng) 71 73 80, G Banister (Aus) 75 73 76,
225 S McAllister (Sco) 79 70 76, G Harvey (Sco) 74 75 76, G Brand (Eng) 74 76 75,
226 P Hinton (Eng) 74 76 76, M Squire (Eng) 73 74 79,
227 R Tuddenham (Eng) 73 77 77,
230 J Bruner (USA) 74 74 82,
231 P Gresswell (Eng) 75 75 81,
** R Rafferty (Nir) 73 73 WD,


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