With the leader’s grip on proceedings in the Bridgestone Senior Players Championship on Saturday starting to slip, Ernie Els carded a one-over-par 71 in the third round at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, to move into a share of fourth ahead of the final round.
Els joins fellow major championship winners Jim Furyk and David Toms at level-par for the championship, seven strokes behind the man who has led throughout, Steve Stricker. Stricker posted a two-over 72 in the third round, giving him a four-shot lead over Jerry Kelly. Ken Duke was in third after his level-par 70 kept him at two-under through 54 holes.
Els picked up a birdie on the second, but he made double-bogey when he missed the fairway from the third tee. He hacked out onto the fairway, and then missed the green with his third shot. He was unable to get up and down for bogey. It was all pars to the turn, and then he dropped another on the 10th. There were birdies on 16 and 17, but he dropped again on the final hole when he three-putted for bogey.
Behind him, Retief Goosen carded a two-over 72 for a tournament total of six-over. He was in a share of 20th. David Frost also had a 72, and, at nine-under, was in a share of 37th.
