Third Round Senior Open Notes and Statistics

Lowest Score, Any Round – Bernhard Langer’s 64 (6 under par) in the third round of the 2012 U.S. Senior Open ties him for the fourth-lowest round in U.S. Senior Open history with Orville Moody, Russ Cochran and Loren Roberts. The lowest round in U.S. Senior Open history is 62 by Loren Roberts in the third round at Prairie Dunes C.C., in Hutchinson, Kan., in 2006. The 64 is also tied for the third-lowest third round score in U.S. Senior Open history.

Birdies in a Round – Bernhard Langer’s third-round 64 included nine birdies, which is the most in a round since Russ Cochran had nine in 2009 at Crooked Stick G.C. Don Pooley also recorded nine birdies in 2002 at Caves Valley G.C.

Lowest Score, 9 Holes – Langer shot 30 on his first nine, which ties the fourth-lowest 9-hole score in U.S. Senior Open history. The lowest 9-hole score in a U.S. Senior Open was set by Tom Kite on the first nine in the first round of this year’s U.S. Senior Open, and Jay Don Blake’s 29 on the first nine of his second round is tied for second (also by Olin Browne in 2011).

Largest 54-Hole Lead – Langer’s four-stroke lead through 54 holes is tied for the third-largest 54-hole lead in U.S. Senior Open history. The largest 54-hole lead in U.S. Senior Open history belongs to Dave Stockton, who had a seven-stroke lead through 54 holes in 1996 at Canterbury G.C.
Lowest Score, First 54 Holes – Langer’s three-day total of 200 (10 under par) ties him for the third-lowest score through 54 holes in U.S. Senior Open history. Olin Browne set the record for the lowest score through 54 holes at last year’s U.S. Senior Open at Inverness Club at 198 (15 under par).
Most Sub-Par Scores, Third Round – There were 23 sub-par scores in the third round on Saturday of the 2012 U.S. Senior Open, which is the third most in history. The record for the most sub-par scores in the third round was set last year at Inverness Club with 34.
Past Champions – Bernhard Langer is among three past U.S. Senior Open champions positioned in the top 15 after the third round at Indianwood Golf and Country Club. Langer, the 2010 Senior Open champion, has the 54-hole lead at 10-under par. Fred Funk, the 2009 champion, is tied for 7th. Peter Jacobsen, who won the Senior Open in 2004, is tied for 15th.
Amateurs– Doug Hanzel and Sean Knapp were the only amateurs to make the cut at the 2012 U.S. Senior Open. Hanzel (+4, 214) is tied for 47th after 54 holes. Knapp (+8, 218) is tied for 61st. Knapp was paired with Tom Watson, a three-time Senior Open runner-up, in the third round. Both players eagled the first hole. Knapp made a 24-foot putt, while Watson holed out from a greenside bunker.

Driving Leader – Steve Lowry – 311

Fairways Hit– Corey Pavin – 79%

Greens In Regulation – Bernhard Langer – 93%

Putts – Corey Pavin, Fuzzy Zoeller, TC Chen – 1.54

About driving distance – I’m impressed that so many “seniors” can drive it so far.

• Steve Lowry – 311
• Fred Couples – 303
• John Huston – 300.2
• Damon Green – 298.2
• Tom Lehman 297.3
• Jay Don Blake – 295.5
• Michael Allen – 293.8
• Jeff Sluman – 291.7
• Rick Lewallen – 290.7

Those kind of numbers are impressive on any tour.

Bernhard Langer played a remarkable round on Saturday: Nine birdies, 93% of greens in regulation (1st), 74% of fairways hit (2nd); 279 driving distance (28th); 1.74 putts (t53)