BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Roger Chapman arrived at Harbor Shores this week a virtual unknown.
The highlight of his career was probably a victory in Brazil - a dozen years ago. Even overseas, Chapman is hardly a star. The Englishman plays on the European Senior Tour, which has held only one tournament this year and is pressed for sponsors.
Now Chapman is one round from a surprising victory at the Senior PGA Championship. After shooting a 7-under-par 64 Saturday, he’s not only leading, he’s threatening to rout the rest of the field. Chapman leads John Cook by five strokes heading in to what could be a sweltering finish today.
“Hopefully, if all goes well [today], maybe we can attract a few more sponsors and hopefully get our purses up,” Chapman said.
Chapman finished the day at 14 under par. Cook began the round tied with Chapman for the lead, but couldn’t keep pace and settled for a 69 to drop into second place.
“It felt like I shot 100 compared to Roger,” Cook said. “He played phenomenal. He had it. It was a pleasure to watch.”
Chapman’s 54-hole score of 199 tied the tournament record set by Sam Snead in 1973,although Snead was 17 under when he set the mark.
Steve Pate had a 67 to join 66-year-old Hale Irwin at 7 under. Irwin made a triple bogey on the par-3 fourth, but played well on the back nine and shot 69.
Chapman beat Padraig Harrington in a playoff to win a European Tour event at Brazil in 2000. He has never won on the Champions Tour. He made the cut in all 11 of his Champions Tour starts last year, but didn’t have a top-10 finish.
After leaving the main European Tour, he spent some time as a rules official. He’s playing in the Senior PGA for the fourth time, and his best finish was a tie for 27th last year.
Chapman, 53, tied for 16th a couple weekends ago at the Mallorca Open - the European Senior Tour’s lone event so far this season.
He’ll have one more challenge this weekend. The temperature is expected to reach 90 degrees today, when the final round is played.
Chapman began to pull away from the field on the front nine Saturday. While Irwin was making a six on No. 4, Chapman rolled in his second birdie of the day to move to 9 under.
On the par-5 fifth, Chapman’s second shot went into the rough to the left of the fairway. He pitched out onto the green, giving himself a birdie putt pin high from about 25 feet, which he made.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Donald leads by two
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Defending champion Luke Donald remained in position to regain the top spot in the world ranking, shooting a 3-under-par 69 to take a twostroke lead at the BMW PGA Championship.
The Englishman overcame windy conditions at Wentworth on a day when only three players broke 70, and Ernie Els criticized European Tour officials for the state of the greens on the course he redesigned.
Donald had an 11-under 205 total. He needs to finish eighth or better to reclaim the No. 1 position from Rory Mc-Ilroy, who missed the cut.
England’s Justin Rose was second after a 69.
Leaderboard
SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP At The Golf Club at Harbor Shores Benton Harbor, Mich.
Purse: TBA Par 71, 6,861 yards Third of four rounds Roger Chapman ............68-67-64-199 John Cook .....................69-66-69-204 Steve Pate .....................70-69-67-206 Hale Irwin ......................71-66-69-206 Joel Edwards .................73-67-67-207 More results, Page 8C
Sports, Pages 29 on 05/27/2012