Final-hole birdies give Lawrence and Fieger share of Senior PNC lead

Gene Fieger of Naples, Fla., and Mike Lawrence of Easley, S.C., two veterans who last were in contention for a national championship two decades ago, each birdied the 18th hole Saturday afternoon to share the third-round lead in the 22nd Senior PGA Professional National Championship. Fieger, the PGA director of golf at the Hideout Club in Naples, is making his Championship debut after turning 50 on June 28. He rallied from three strokes off the pace with a 3-under-par 69, a round capped by his sand wedge approach to within two feet of the cup at 18 at the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Toscana Country Club. The dramatics gave Fieger a 54-hole total of 8-under-par 208, landing in a tie with Lawrence, the second-round co-leader, who struggled throughout his round before closing with a 72. Fieger carved his path to a share of the lead by making a pair of par-saving putts, including an eight-footer on the 17th hole. "When you can knock home a par putt like that, it helps you mentally stay in the game," said Fieger, who owns two top-10 PGA Professional National Championship finishes, the last a share of seventh in 1998. "I was really pleased to play 18 well. I have been playing well lately in Section and Chapter events, but the bulk of my time has been following my son, Brad, who is a freshman third baseman/pitcher at the University of Miami. That has been a lot of fun for me." A total of 73 players made the weekend, with only four players breaking 70 on the 6,978-yard layout. Robert Thompson of Huntsville, Texas, who shot a third-round 69 and Perry Arthur of Plano, Texas, who had a 70, sit in a tie for third, a stroke back of the leaders. Lawrence, a 55-year-old PGA Life Member who is making his fifth Championship appearance, bogeyed the third hole, birdied the fifth and parred until he reached 15, a par 5, where he said he "rushed his third shot" and sailed it through the green. He failed to get up and down for par. All of that was forgotten when Lawrence reached the 426-yard 18th hole, where he hit a 9-iron approach from 140 yards to 25 feet before ramming home the birdie putt. "The pins were tougher out there today," said Lawrence, who last found himself near a national title in 1990, when he tied for fourth in the PGA Professional National Championship six miles away in Rancho Mirage. "The difference for me yesterday [when he posted a 67], was with the putter. Today, I was a bit more tentative and the greens seemed a little faster. "I do love playing out here and I'm very happy to be where I am in this Championship. It's going to be fun tomorrow." Defending Champion Bill Britton of Rumson, N.J., who had a 72, led a group of four players at 211. "I played pretty well today but still had a few slip-ups," said Britton. "I made some putts and I missed some putts. I am still in contention." Toscana Country Club yielded a 74.05 third-round scoring average, the lowest of the week. The Senior PGA Professional National Championship showcases PGA Professionals that are at least 50 years of age, as of the Championship, who have qualified through one of the 41 PGA Sections. The low 35 finishers in the 22nd Senior PGA Professional National Championship will qualify for the 2011 Senior PGA Championship, May 25-29, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2011 Senior PGA Professional National Championship. In addition, the top five finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Qualifying Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have submitted an entry by the entry deadline.