THE HARBOR SHORES CLUBHOUSE, HOME OF THE 73RD SR. PGA
CHAMPIONSHIP, in Benton Harbor Michigan.
It looks like the Roger Chapman show at this point, as
Chapman has a five shot leaded heading into the final
round of the 73rd Senior PGA Championship.
Chapman took the Jack Nicklaus designed Golf Club
at Harbor Shores designed course, and crushed it
with a course tying record seven under par 64. That
record had been set the previous day. Eight birdies
and only one bogey summed up the day for Chapman.
Golf fans in America don't know Chapman because
he's been playing the European Tours over the years,
both the main tour and in later years the Euro-Senior
Tour.
Chapman also hasn't been winning, which is why he
is not a household name. His last win came back in
2000 in an event held in South America, part of title
of that championship was "The 500". Making it feel
like Chapman won an auto race.
It's not like Chapman hasn't had his chances. He
spoke after his round yesterday about being a
bridesmaid on some 16 occasions. He has lost
some events in playoffs, been the leader in the
clubhouse many times only to see other players
have amazing finishes to beat him on the last hole.
The Champions Tour players know him. John Cook
who is in second place five shots back says all of us
on this tour know Roger, we know how well he can
play. Cook is playing solid golf this weekend, and
doesn't count himself out of it yet. Cook had 16 pars
and two birdies in round three in route to a 69.
Steve Pate and and 66 year old Hale Irwin, sit lurking
seven shots back of Chapman tied for third place..
The leaders tee off today 12:35 Chicago time, or
1:35 over in Benton Harbor. NBC will show the final
round on TV this afternoon.
The Golf Club at Harbor Shores is a 90 minute drive
from downtown Chicago, and two hours from the far
Northwest Suburbs. The course is open to the public
for play and is operated by the Northbrook based
Kemper Sports Management.
LISTEN TO INTERVIEW WITH ROGER CHAPMAN:
THE PAR 4 8TH HOLE AT HARBOR SHORES, Lake Michigan can be
seen in the back of the photo..