After three straight 70s, Kirk Hanefeld is just one shot off the lead. (Photo: The PGA of America)

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Borrowing a phrase from his playing partner, John Aubrey said that the Toscana Country Club "really fit my eye well."

As sunlight slipped below the mountains Saturday, a player's ability to see their ball at all was a major advantage on the field in the waning moments of the third round of the 20th Senior PGA Professional National Championship presented by Callaway Golf.

Aubrey, a 57-year-old PGA head professional at Aubrey's Dubbs Dred Golf Course in Butler, Pa., played safe left of a water hazard on the 18th hole, then pitched from 60 yards to within five feet before making a crucial par.

RELATED
Round 2 recap Round 1 recap Preview

That feat capped a marathon day for Aubrey, who played 30 holes overall -- including 12 of a suspended second round -- at Andalusia Country Club in La Quinta. He then drove 15 miles to Toscana, lunched, practiced and went out to record a bogey-free, 3-under-par 69.

His 54-hole total of 7-under-par 209 gives him a one-stroke cushion in the premier championship for PGA Professionals age 50-and-older.

Mike Borich of Midvale, Utah, the second-round leader, and Kirk Hanefeld of Acton, Mass., shared second at 210. Bill Britton of Rumson, N.J., the low PGA club professional in the Senior PGA Championship last spring, finished with a 68 to stand alone in fourth at 211.

Roy Vucinich of Moon Township, Pa., the first-round leader and Aubrey's close friend for many years, closed with a 72 to fall another two strokes back at 213. Vucinich is tied with three others that include 2004 champion Jim White of Lincoln, Neb.

Having been one of 66 players who awoke early Saturday to complete play at Andalusia, Aubrey found Toscana to his liking as he made birdies on the fifth, eighth and 15th holes. He also knocked home a 15-foot par-saving putt on the 11th hole to keep his momentum.

"This was one long day for an old guy," said Aubrey. "I don't know what it was about today playing here, but I really feel comfortable here for some reason. I love the greens. I'm just driving the ball well; the holes really suit me and fit my eye well."

"Doesn't that sound familiar?" asked Vucinich, breaking into a big grin. "He hears that a lot."

Borich, a 51-year-old PGA teaching professional at Meadowbrook Golf Club in Salt Lake City, closed with a stunning birdie 3 on the 18th in near darkness for a 72. He made a five-foot birdie putt from behind the hole.

"That was a two-shot swing there at 18 in near dark," said Borich. "I hit a 5-iron from 178. I tried to hit a little cut shot in there and I was going to hit 6-iron but I didn't want to get wet. I actually pushed it but that's OK.

"Eighteen was awesome. I took an extra club to make sure it was over. I didn't care if it was in the back rough or not. I just wanted to make it over. I saw Kirk's (Hanefeld) ball go in and so I wanted to make sure it was over and I hit a good shot. I am ready to go tomorrow."

Things were not as rosy for Hanefeld, who led the championship on the 18th tee before finishing with a double bogey-6 and his third consecutive 70. He hit his second shot into the water, took a penalty drop and hit his third shot to 25 feet and two-putted from there.

Britton overcame a 75 in the second round by recording a bogey-free 68. The 52-year-old director of instruction at Twin Brook Golf Center in Tinton Falls, N.J., collected four birdies on the first, ninth, 11th and 18th holes.

"I was in contention after the first round and then screwed up a bit in Round 2," said Britton. "I was hoping to get back in there and I played really well. Everything clicked today and hopefully, it keeps clicking.

"One of my goals each year is to make it back to the Senior PGA Championship plus I think all of us here would like to play it in and the past two years and really enjoyed it. For me, that is the highlight of the year, playing in that thing."

The winner of the Senior PGA Professional National Championship presented by Callaway Golf will have his name inscribed on the Leo F. Fraser Trophy and will receive a first-place check for $20,000 from a total purse of $285,000.

In addition, the low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2009 Senior PGA Championship at Canterbury Golf Club in Cleveland, Ohio. The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2009 Senior PGA Professional National Championship presented by Callaway Golf. In addition, the top 5 finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have filled out an entry by the entry deadline.

Senior PGA Professional National Championship
Presented by Callaway Golf
Third-Round Scores:
John Aubrey, Butler, Pa. 69-71-69--209
Mike Borich, Midvale, Utah 70-68-72--210
Kirk Hanefeld, Acton, Mass. 70-70-70--210
William Britton, Tinton Falls, N.J. 68-75-68--211
Jon Fiedler, Camarillo, Calif. 72-72-69--213
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 69-73-71--213
Chris Tucker, Fort Mill, S.C. 69-72-72--213
Roy Vucinich, Moon Township, Pa. 64-77-72--213
Freddy Gibson, Orlando, Fla. 68-77-69--214
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo. 72-71-71--214
Robert Thompson, Huntsville, Texas 68-72-74--214
Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla. 67-72-75--214
Fred Holton, Montgomery, Ala. 75-68-72--215
Mike Malaska, Mesa, Ariz. 68-75-72--215
Will Frantz, Scottsdale, Ariz. 74-69-72--215
Brent Murray, Lake Oswego, Ore. 73-70-72--215
Thomas Herzan, Findlay, Ohio 68-73-74--215
Robert Gibbons, Molalla, Ore. 71-70-74--215
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 70-71-74--215
J.R. Roth, Flushing, Mich. 68-72-75--215
Jim Woodward, Edmond, Okla. 72-72-72--216
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas 73-71-72--216
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio 73-71-72--216
Ron Vlosich, Lakewood, Colo. 71-72-73--216
Jay Overton, Palm Harbor, Fla. 73-72-71--216
Butch Sheehan, Rancho Mirage, Calif 72-74-70--216
Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio 69-73-74--216
William Loeffler, Castle Rock, Colo. 70-71-75--216
Bob McGrath, San Jose, Calif. 72-71-74--217
Jim Sobb, Barrington, Ill. 74-69-74--217
Fran Marrello, Plymouth, Conn. 72-73-72--217
Joe Gutterman, Palm Coast, Fla. 75-69-74--218
Wayne Defrancesco, Columbia, Md. 70-72-76--218
Bob Lendzion, Las Vegas, Nev. 72-70-76--218
Mike Lawrence, Easley, S.C. 72-69-77--218
Matt Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 73-71-75--219
Brett Upper, Scottsdale, Ariz. 70-74-75--219
Victor Tortorici, Stuart, Fla. 71-73-75--219
Cory George, Lancaster, Ohio 71-73-75--219
George Forster, Villanova, Pa. 73-72-74--219
Tom Sutter, Mount Vernon, N.Y. 74-72-73--219
Cleve Coldwater, Clarks Summit, Pa. 72-72-76--220
Nevin Sutcliffe, Lehigh Acres, Fla. 71-73-76--220
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 71-72-77--220
Gary Trivisonno, Aurora, Ohio 71-74-75--220
Bob Giusti, Halifax, Mass. 74-72-74--220
Scott Spence, Middletown, R.I. 68-72-80--220
Rocky Catalano, Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 70-76-74--220
Frank Mcauliffe, Ann Arbor, Mich. 72-73-76--221
Marty Schiene, Mokena, Ill. 72-73-76--221
Jeff Bohr, Dix Hills, N.Y. 71-74-76--221
Gary Sowinski, Rancho Santa Fe, Cal 75-71-75--221
Jay Taise, Waikoloa, Hawaii 69-72-80--221
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 69-77-75--221
Jeff Coston, Blaine, Wash. 77-68-77--222
Brad Stormon, Temecula, Calif. 71-74-77--222
Ric Burgess, Colusa, Calif. 70-75-77--222
Ed Whitman, Blairstown, N.J. 71-75-76--222
Scott Davis, Hurricane, W.Va. 71-75-76--222
Chris Mitchell, Portland, Ore. 72-72-80--224
Tommy Brannen, Augusta, Ga. 74-72-78--224
Artie McNickle, La Quinta, Calif. 73-73-78--224
Brad Schmierer, Hastings, Minn. 74-72-78--224
Ken Corliss, Columbus, Ohio 69-77-78--224
Rod Nuckolls, Wichita, Kan. 72-72-81--225
Kerry Mattern, Blue Bell, Pa. 71-73-81--225
John Mazza, Beaver Falls, Pa. 76-69-80--225
Jim Pike, Maple Valley, Wash. 73-72-80--225
Gil Gusweiler, Cincinnati, Ohio 70-72-84--226
Cary Hungate, Kokomo, Ind. 74-72-80--226
Steve Brady, Oakland Township, Mi 70-76-80--226
Mike Worroll, Cape Elizabeth, Main 69-77-80--226
Paul Wise, Los Angeles, Calif. 74-70-83--227
John Deforest, Accord, N.Y. 75-71-81--227
Bill King, Spring Lake, N.J. 71-74-83--228
Jerry Coleman, Lake View, N.Y. 72-74-84--230