On Thursday Kirk Triplett shot 62 at the U.S. Senior Open and tied the record for low round in the event and set the record for best first round score ever.
On Friday Triplett set the 36-hole scoring mark along with Kenny Perry as they both shot 129 — 11-under par at the Salem Country Club.
On Saturday, moving day, Triplett set yet another record. Triplett’s 66 got him to unexplored USGA territory — 15-under par after 54 holes at a Senior Open.
You’d figure he’d be blowing everyone away, but no, there’s Perry, breathing down his neck. Perry, who shared the overnight lead and that 36-hole scoring record, shot 67 and goes into Sunday’s final round a shot back at 14-under par.
Together, Triplett and Perry have separated themselves from the rest of the field despite a 62 by Brandt Jobe on Saturday. Jobe’s 62 got him to nine-under par, six back of Triplett.
“We don’t need Brandt Jobe to shoot 62 again,” Perry kidded after his round. “It’s gonna be a battle,” Perry said of his impending final round showdown with Triplett. “Hopefully I can catch fire earlier in the round. If I can get relaxed and swing at it like I know I can swing at it, good things are going to happen.”
Triplett, who has won five times on the Champions Tour, is looking for his first major championship. Perry has already won this Senior Open once.
“We wanted to distance ourselves from the pack,” said Triplett, who played with Perry in the third round. “We both felt more comfortable as the day went on,” said Triplett, who kick-started his round when he holed a bunker shot at the par five sixth after opening with five pars. He then bogeyed seven but bounced back with a chip-in for birdie at nine. Two birdies coming home and mistake-free golf gave him a 66 and a one-shot edge over his playing partner.
It looks like a two-man duel for all intents and purposes.
“Kenny and I will like to get off to a good start,” Triplett added, “then maybe we’ll look each other in the eye on the back nine and see who has it and who doesn’t.”
