TOLEDO, Ohio - Bruce Lietzke has spent a lifetime traveling to courses, cashing checks and winning tournaments.
He had never had a day like Saturday at the U.S. Senior Open.
Lietzke shot 7-under 64, which he called the finest round of his 29-year pro career, for a four-stroke lead going into the final round at Inverness Club.
"This would probably have to be at the top," the Texan said.
Lietzke's 64, which included five birdies on the back nine, left him at 9-under 204.
In 52 major championships, five as a senior and the rest on the PGA Tour, Lietzke's best finish was second to John Daly at the 1991 PGA Championship. His lowest previous round in a major was 66 at the Tradition a year ago.
"I've had 62s on the PGA and Champions Tours," he said. "I've had tons of good rounds. But figuring how hard the golf course is ... that's probably the greatest round I've ever had."
Allen Doyle, one of four in the field under par through 54 holes, said he was shaken by how well Lietzke has played.
"He's just been phenomenal," said Doyle, whose 71 left him in fourth place, eight shots behind Lietzke. "He was never better than today."
Vicente Fernandez, who started the day with a one-stroke lead over Tom Watson, shot 71 and was tied with Watson for second place at 5-under 208. Watson's 70 included pars on his final 10 holes.
ST. JUDE CLASSIC: Richard Johnson shot a steady 2-under 69 for a one-stroke lead over David Toms after three rounds in Memphis.
Johnson, trying to win in his 14th start on the PGA Tour, was at 14-under 199. Toms birdied two of his final three holes for 65 and tries today for his second victory this year, the ninth in his career.
Tim Herron (65), Lee Janzen (67), Fredrik Jacobson (68) and David Peoples (70) were two back. Ben Crane (64) was at 202, and Notah Begay (64) and third-round co-leader John Huston of Palm Harbor (73) were in a group tied at 203.
Huston fell off the pace when he hurried a putt from 18 inches on No. 9 past the hole for bogey.
SHOPRITE CLASSIC: Angela Stanford shot 4-under 67 for a one-stroke lead in the LPGA Tour event in Galloway Township, N.J., with Annika Sorenstam lurking four back. Stanford, who started the day sharing the lead with Laura Diaz (71) and Kris Lindstrom (74), made five birdies to finish the second round at 132. Michelle Wie, 13, was 11 back after 72. Sorenstam, the defending champion, roared into contention with 66 after a lackluster opening round.
FRENCH OPEN: Philip Golding birdied the last hole for 4-under 68 and a one-stroke lead at 12-under 204 at the European PGA Tour event in Versailles. Second-round leader Thomas Bjorn (71) was part of a five-way tie at 205.
SK TELECOM OPEN: Corey Pavin closed with three birdies for 4-under 68 and was three off the lead heading into the final round of the rain-shortened event in Seoul, South Korea. Pavin, the 1995 U.S. Open champion, was at 9-under 135, tied for fifth behind Shin Yong-jin, who moved to 12-under 132 with 64.
