Howdy, Roy Akers
The 46th U.S. Senior Open at Scioto Country Club went back to the future on Saturday sans a souped-up DeLorean with a flux capacitor.
With an ode to the popular 1985 movie, the dial only was turned back to 2025. Basically, the same protagonists are part of this script. Just replace Mark Hensby with George McNeill.
Otherwise, it’s defending champion Padraig Harrington, Stewart Cink and Miguel Angel Jimenez taking starring roles. Cink, who was edged by Harrington a year ago at The Broadmoor, will take a one-stroke lead over the affable Irishman going into Sunday’s final round, thanks to a championship-best-tying, bogey-free 6-under-par 64 for a 9-under total of 201. The 64 is the lowest round ever produced in a U.S. Senior Open at Scioto.
Cink is trying to become the first player to win the year’s first three senior majors, having already claimed the Senior PGA Championship in April and the Regions Tradition a few weeks later. Like Harrington, he also owns a Claret Jug, having captured The Open Championship in a memorable playoff against then-59-year-old Tom Watson at Turnberry in 2009.
Despite a brilliant shot-making performance, especially on the back nine, Harrington bogeyed his final hole to shoot 66 (202).
Jimenez, who fired a 64 in last year’s final round for solo third, sits three behind after a third-round 67.
Meanwhile, the upstart McNeill, the 36-hole leader and U.S. Senior Open debutante who made just 2 of 12 cuts in majors and never broke 70 in five U.S. Open appearances, continued to stay close to the two senior stalwarts with a 1-under 69.
Darren Clarke, who matched Cink’s 64, moved up 36 spots into a share of fifth at 3-under 207 with Paul Stankowski (68).
Cink, Harrington, McNeill and Jimenez seem to be the main four characters in this Sunday drama. Could Stankowski or Clarke put on a magical comeback? Allen Doyle rallied from nine back to win the first of his two consecutive titles in 2005 at NCR Country Club, in Dayton, just 75 miles west of Scioto.
So it can happen.
Rev up the flux capacitor.
