Peter Senior’s closing birdie Saturday opened a one-stroke lead at Allianz Championship.

Photos by: Pedro Heizer

BOCA RATON – Peter Senior held steady in Saturday’s chilly, windy conditions to card a 5-under-par 67 that matched the day’s low round at Broken Sound Club. After trailing the fast-starting Rod Spittle for most of the day, a two-putt birdie at the par-5 18th hole lifted him to the top.

Spittle could have matched Senior’s total of 11-under 133, but bogeyed the final hole with a three-putt through the advancing shadows. But considering he’d rammed home three earlier birdie putts from 15 feet and beyond, he had little reason to be unhappy with his 67.

“It was the only putt I missed today,” he said.

“It’s out there for the taking,” Senior said, “if somebody wants to go out and grab it.”

Though Senior’s portfolio might seem a bit light, it would be hard to disparage his pedigree. He won as recently as two months ago, capturing the rain-marred Australian PGA in a playoff over former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.

Senior, who lives in Orlando, also owns four European Tour wins and three on the Japan Tour. Before joining the Champions Tour, though, he spent 10 years as a part-timer to see his kids grow up.

Hometown hero and defending champion Bernhard Langer, had a 72 on Saturday and was seven strokes back of the lead. Langer had an opportunity for birdie at the par-5 11th hole when he hit his ball on the green in two shots. He failed to convert this opportunity by three putting and making par.

Game Notes: The Golf Channel will televise the final round of the Allianz Championship on Sunday. The final trio is set to tee off is at 12:38pm.