Mason has sights on first title in six years as he eyes a 26th Senior victory
Record European Senior Tour winner Carl Mason will take a one-stroke lead into today’s final round of the Dutch Masters in his bid for a record-breaking 26th victory.
The 64-year-old carded his second consecutive round of 70 at The Dutch, one-underpar, for a two-under par total, one stroke ahead of American Clark Dennis who will go in search of his second victory of the season.
Similarly to the first round, the 54-man field had to contend with strong winds and rain at The Dutch, a European Tour Destination and host of the KLM Open.
Mason and Dennis were the only two players to finish their second rounds under par.
Mason, who won his first title on the over-50s circuit in 2003, broke former Ryder Cup player Tommy Horton’s record of 23 victories six years ago when he won the Open de España Senior. His 25th victory came later in 2011 at the Benahavis Senior Masters.
“I’m delighted with that,” said Mason. “I kept swinging at it and it kept going straight, a few putts went in and it was as enjoyable as it could be given the circumstances. It’s playing so
difficult out there, it’s very tricky.
“I’ve had some really good rounds then some bad rounds. I want to put it down to age, but maybe it’s just me. When you get older it’s not as easy.
“Me and Des Smyth have always said we have wanted to get a win in our 60s and that would be wonderful. I appreciate how good these guys are now, so I’ll go out there and try my best.”
Dennis, the 18-hole leader, carded a second round of 72, one-over-par, for a one-under-par total after two rounds.
Stephen Dodd, Paul Eales and Brendan McGovern share third place on oneover-par, while Scotland’s Andrew Oldcorn occupies sixth place a shot further back.
Meanwhile, across the pond, Brendan Steele took a step closer to winning his second Safeway Open title in as many years with a second round of 67 to lie one shot off the lead at the half-way point.
After carding 65 in his first round, the American nailed back-to-back birdies on the 12th and 13th – including a 129-yard approach which landed within inches of the pin – to go five-under for the day and 12-under overall.
Leader Tyler Duncan was tied at the top after the first round but bogeyed on the second, third and fourth to sit at one-under for the day after four second-round holes on the front nine.
But he rallied to card a six-under-par round of 66 with three birdies and an eagle in his last five holes to sit at 13-under.