A few familiar names made Saturday charges, trying to get themselves in position to catch 54-hole leader Padraig Harrington.
And one did. Briefly.
Steve Stricker, Harrington’s counterpart at the 43rd Ryder Cup as the U.S. Captain, lit the East Course ablaze on Saturday, carding eight birdies for a bogey-free, third-round 64 — tying the course record — to pull even with Harrington at 15-under, until the Irishman birdied the closing hole. Stricker is looking for his sixth senior major, and second this year.
To tie the course record and take a share of the lead.
— KitchenAid Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 27, 2023
What a round for @stevestricker!🔥🔥 #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/IQfNRdla7G
Stewart Cink had the shot of moving day, making an ace on Fields Ranch East’s signature par-3 13th, using a 6-iron from 191 yards. He also made an eagle and 3 birdies to sit in third in his senior major debut at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship.
Sweden’s Robert Karlsson also made a jump the leaderboard, shooting a 5-under 67 to vault into the Top 5. With four birdies and an eagle, the 2008 DP World Tour Order of Merit winner is looking for his second top-five finish in a senior major this year.
Steven Alker, the defending KitchenAid Senior PGA Champion, fired a third-round 69 and sits in 7th place. Although it was a bit of an up and down day for the New Zealand native — six birdies and two bogeys led to the 3-under round — he’s eyeing another strong finish in Frisco tomorrow.
But everyone in the field is still chasing Harrington, who’s held the lead the entire week. The question is, will anyone be able to wrestle the pole position away from him?
