Darren Clarke shot a three-over 73 to tumble down the leaderboard as Michael Block went low to take the lead going into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Jefferson Lehigh Valley Classic.
Dungannon native Clark was out of sorts early on and carded three straight bogeys from the third. A birdie on six and another on 13 got him back to +1 for the day, but two bogeys over his closing five completed a miserable day and he fell into a tie for 50th place.
PGA Tour Champions rookie Michael Block shot a bogey-free 63 to move into a one-stroke lead at -11. The man who shot to fame with his performance at the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2023 is making his seventh start of the season and playing on a sponsor’s exemption, but looks set to earn full status and qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Championship with a high-placed finish.
“You know what, I don’t look at the leaderboard,” Block said after being asked how it felt to shoot his lowest round since turning 50. “I don’t look at my scorecard, I just play golf and that’s it, to be honest.
“It’s really cool to have people out there because they take my mind off of what I’m doing. It helps for me a lot because I’m not focusing on where I’m at in the tournament or what I’m shooting that day.”
A natural showman, Block is determined to let his loud personality shine through on Sunday.
“Like don’t try to be the quiet Michael,” he said. “Quiet Michael doesn’t work. Michael having fun works. Michael being quiet, Michael trying to be somebody he’s not doesn’t work. That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow.”
Tracking him down, however, is New Zealander Steven Alker.
After back-to-back wins on the Champions Tour, Alker travelled to Northern Ireland and won the NI Legends at Galgorm, then returned to finish runner-up last week on the US circuit.
Seeking a fourth win in five starts, the Kiwi produced a bogey-free, five-under 65 to move to -10, and he’ll play alongside Block and third-placed Richard Green in the final round.
Green holds solo third at -9, with Ryan Armour in solo fourth at -8 and the trio of Tag Ridings, YE Yang and Robert Karlsson sharing fifth at -7.
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