The 44th U.S. Senior Open in Newport, R.I., is heating up as Hiroyuki Fujita dominated the third round at Newport Country Club, maintaining his lead without carding a bogey. Fujita showcased remarkable control, finishing with a 3-under 67 to extend his lead to 14 under heading into the final round. With three birdies and 15 pars, Fujita appeared to stroll through the round effortlessly and has only missed one fairway throughout the tournament. His strong performance has left other players in awe, with many acknowledging his exceptional golf skills.
Despite Fujita’s lead, Steve Stricker and Richard Green added some late pressure by finishing the round with a flurry of birdies, cutting Fujita’s lead to two shots. Stricker is at 12 under, while Green is just one shot back at 11 under. However, other players like Bob Estes, who is six shots behind the lead with a 4-under 66, acknowledge the difficulty of catching up to Fujita. As Sunday’s final round approaches, the competition is expected to intensify, making it a challenging day for all players.
Justin Leonard made a significant move up the leaderboard by carding four birdies before the turn, finishing with a 3-under 67. Leonard is tied for 13th place at 4 under, along with others who also broke par on Saturday. Richard Bland and Paul Stankowski are close behind Fujita, at 9 under and 7 under respectively. However, only 17 players are within 10 shots of the lead, highlighting Fujita’s dominant performance throughout the tournament as a relatively unknown player in the U.S.
Anticipating afternoon fog, start times were pushed up to the morning, with threesomes teeing off from both the first and 10th tees. Despite the change in schedule, players were greeted with perfect summer golf weather, including an ocean breeze and sunshine. The stage is set for an intense final round of the U.S. Senior Open, with Fujita proving to be a force to be reckoned with. His impressive record of 23 professional wins in Japan adds to the intrigue of his performance in the U.S., showcasing his consistency and skill on the golf course.
As the tournament heads into its final day, the field is anticipating a challenging round with Fujita in the lead. Players like Stricker, Green, and Estes are determined to make a push for the top spot and challenge Fujita’s dominance. With only 17 players within 10 shots of the lead, the competition will be fierce as players aim to make their mark at the U.S. Senior Open. The final round promises to be filled with action and excitement as golf enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of this prestigious tournament.
