PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The rain held off early in the day Sunday and players were able to finish their third rounds at the 19th Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional National Championship. Bill Loeffler, owner and operator of the Highlands Ranch (Colo.) Golf Club, fired his second consecutive 6-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Chris Starkjohann of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., who carded a 68.
"I was pretty fortunate during my second round, where I made some good putts that normally would not go in, so I got pretty lucky," said Loeffler, the 1992 National Assistant Professional Champion.
Loeffler's third round was highlighted by seven birdies and only a single bogey.
"I have finally been hitting some good iron shots in this third round, which I haven't been able to do in awhile," said Loeffler.
Starkjohann, coming off a second place finish in last year's Senior PGA Professional National Championship, moved into second place after his third consecutive round in the 60s.
"I hit the ball pretty straight, so a whole lot of courses fit my eye well, including these [Ryder and Wanamaker]," said Starkjohann. "I got off to a good scoring start, getting it to 2-under through four holes when I could have easily been even par."
Bill Britton of Tinton Falls, N.J., Wayne DeFrancesco of Columbia, Md. And Freddy Gibson of Orlando, Fla. are each tied for third place are each tied for third place at 9-under 207.
Players returned to the course at 10:00 a.m. so that the damp course could dry. The final round began at 10:30 a.m. with the leaders going out at 11:32 a.m.
Callaway Golf is in its sixth year as the title sponsor of the Senior PGA Professional National Championship.
The low 35 finishers will qualify for the 2008 Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club [East Course] in Rochester, N.Y. The top eight finishers, including ties, will receive exemptions into the 2008 Callaway Golf Senior PGA Professional Championship. In addition, the top 10 finishers will be exempt into the Champions Tour National Finals at TPC Eagle Trace, provided they have filled out an entry by the deadline.
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country.
Scores After Three Rounds:
William Loeffler, Highlands Ranch, Col 72-66-66--204
Chris Starkjohann, Encinitas, Calif. 68-69-68--205
William Britton, Tinton Falls, N.J. 69-70-68--207
Wayne Defrancesco, Columbia, Md. 68-67-72--207
Freddy Gibson, Orlando, Fla. 70-66-71--207
Darrell Kestner, Glen Cove, N.Y. 73-68-67--208
David Lundstrom, Victoria, Texas 71-69-68--208
Robert Thompson, Huntsville, Texas 69-67-72--208
Bob Darling, Lewiston, Maine 70-70-69--209
Perry Arthur, Plano, Texas 68-70-72--210
Jim Woodward, Chandler, Okla. 72-65-73--210
Tommy Brannen, Augusta, Ga. 72-72-67--211
Jim White, Lincoln, Neb. 75-67-69--211
Mark Pelletier, El Paso, Texas 69-71-71--211
Ralph West, Litchfield Park, Ari 70-68-73--211
Scott Mahlberg, San Diego, Calif. 71-70-71--212
Scott Spence, Portsmouth, R.I. 73-72-67--212
Bob Ford, Oakmont, Pa. 64-71-77--212
Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla. 73-69-71--213
Bruce Zabriski, Jupiter, Fla. 74-70-69--213
James Blair, Ogden, Utah 71-69-73--213
Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio 69-68-76--213
Mike Parrish, Guntersville, Ala. 74-71-68--213
Bill Sautter, Warrington, Pa. 72-70-72--214
Bob Boyd , Wilmington, N.C. 74-69-71--214
Gary Sowinski, Rancho Santa Fe, Cal 71-73-70--214
Thomas Herzan, Findlay, Ohio 73-68-73--214
Rod Nuckolls, Wichita, Kan. 70-71-73--214
Mike Zinni, N. Mankato, Minn. 70-70-74--214
Mike Barge, Chanhassen, Minn. 67-73-74--214
Jim Fellner, Little River, S.C. 70-70-74--214
Bob Ralston, Little Rock, Ark. 69-70-75--214
Matthew Seitz, Hutchinson, Kan. 71-67-76--214
John Traub, Oakland Township, Mi 72-71-72--215
Mike Gray, Jupiter, Fla. 73-72-70--215
George Forster, Villanova, Pa. 73-72-70--215
John Mazza, Beaver Falls, Pa. 69-70-76--215
David Arbuckle, Colorado Springs, Co 72-73-70--215
Lindy Miller, Fort Worth, Texas 70-73-73--216
Jerry Impellittiere, Palm City, Fla. 73-70-73--216
Steve Heckel, Carterville, Ill. 67-75-74--216
John Hayes, St. Louis, Mo. 72-72-72--216
Thomas Anderson, Laurel, Mont. 69-72-75--216
Bill Dodd, Phoenix, Ariz. 74-67-75--216
Christopher Campbell, Vero Beach, Fla. 74-70-72--216
Victor Tortorici, Stuart, Fla. 71-74-71--216
John Godwin, Pine Mountain, Ga. 73-72-71--216
Jack Seltzer, Panama City, Fla. 71-74-71--216
Denny Hepler, Winona Lake, Ind. 72-71-74--217
Glen Stubblefield, Valley Springs, Cali 69-73-75--217
Dave Kendall, Saline, Mich. 73-70-74--217
Steve Waugh, Naples, Fla. 70-74-73--217
Randy Towner, Lawrence, Kan. 69-73-75--217
Kevin Bishop, Tumwater, Wash. 74-70-73--217
Tony Saraceno, Cortland, N.Y. 72-73-72--217
Will Brewer, Franklin, Tenn. 68-72-77--217
Gene George, West Palm Bch, Fla. 73-70-75--218
Stan Stopa, New Orleans, La. 69-75-74--218
Michael Burke, Towaco, N.J. 72-69-77--218
Donald Reese, Defuniak Springs, Fl 65-76-77--218
Fran Marrello, Plymouth, Conn. 72-73-73--218
John Calabria, Naples, Fla. 73-72-73--218
Mike Gove, Snohomish, Wash. 72-70-77--219
Robert Makoski, Novi, Mich. 71-71-77--219
Don Brigham, Jersey City, N.J. 68-73-78--219
Jon Stanley, Phoenix, Ariz. 76-68-75--219
Gregg Wolff, Metter, Ga. 75-69-75--219
Brad Sherfy, Santa Rosa Valley, C 75-70-74--219
Butch Sheehan, Rancho Mirage, Calif 68-71-80--219
Robert Bailey, Old Greenwich, Conn. 73-70-77--220
Glen Miller, Herndon, Va. 73-69-78--220
Christopher Dachisen, Wayne, N.J. 72-70-78--220
Ralph Salito, Danbury, Conn. 71-73-76--220
Bill Schumaker, Columbia City, Ind. 74-68-78--220
Jim Dickson, The Woodlands, Texas 74-71-75--220
Paul Wise, Redondo Beach, Calif 72-73-75--220
Thomas Costello, Park City, Utah 71-74-75--220
Dennis Foster, Thousand Palms, Cali 70-71-80--221
Ric Burgess, Colusa, Calif. 74-71-76--221
Bob Irving, Sarasota, Fla. 72-73-76--221
Thomas Fussaro, Shaker Heights, Ohio 71-68-82--221
Randy Erskine, Lake Orion, Mich. 69-74-79--222
Gary Groh, Highland Park, Ill. 75-68-79--222
Allan Menne, Mashpee, Mass. 70-74-78--222
Don Germer, Omaha, Neb. 73-72-77--222
Richard Von Tacky, Titusville, Pa. 72-73-77--222
Vic Lipscomb, Spartanburg, S.C. 74-71-78--223
Bill Sakas, Northbrook, Ill. 71-74-78--223
Mick Herron, Monument Beach, Mass 73-72-78--223
John Graham, Idaho Falls, Idaho 73-72-78--223
Michael Paul, Reno, Nev. 73-72-79--224
Tom Joyce, Long Island, N.Y. 73-72-81--226
Russ Moore, Socorro, N.M. 74-70-83--227
