Leader Holds On to Edge : Seniors: Crampton shoots his second consecutive three-under-par 69 to lead by four shots over Beard, who shoots 68.

Bruce Crampton proved to be a relentless leader Saturday at La Costa.

Crampton shot his second consecutive three-under-par 69 in the third round of the senior division of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions for a 54-hole total of 208 and a four-shot lead over Frank Beard.

Beard, in another unusual day, shot a 68 to cut one shot from Crampton’s imposing lead. But each time Beard moved close, Crampton fired a birdie and kept his hold on the lead.

After all the problems he has had, Beard is fortunate to be within four shots.

In the opening round, he had a triple bogey on the third hole but rallied to lead the tournament. In the second round, he had a string of five bogeys to lose the lead in a hurry.

His troubles Saturday began on the second hole, a 506-yard par five. He hit his second shot into the water on the right and missed a short putt for a double-bogey seven.

That put him seven shots behind, but he persevered and was six under for the last 16 holes to pull back into contention. He had seven birdies to give him 15 for three rounds.

Crampton and Beard are the only golfers in the 50-and-older division under par. Tied for third, 10 shots behind Crampton, are Mike Hill and George Archer, who between them won nine tournaments last year.

Although he appears to be oblivious of anything around him, Crampton says he’s aware of everything that goes on.

He has a serious, determined look. The only time he smiled was when he sank a 30-foot putt on the 14th to restore a five-stroke lead.

“I’m happy, especially with the score,” Crampton said. “I was not hitting the ball well off the practice tee, so I was a little tentative when I started.

“I hooked my drive into the bunker on one and put the second shot into the bunker in front of the green under the lip. I had to stand awkwardly with one foot on the bank. I hit a fantastic shot to within five feet and sank the putt. I still wasn’t hitting the ball well and had a bogey on five. I started hitting it better, but it was No. 9 before I really began to play well.”

Crampton was four-under par on the last 10 holes to keep Beard from getting closer.

Asked what he had to do to win, he said: “I have to finish one shot ahead.

“I have to shoot well, because Frank is playing very well. I really won’t be playing Frank, I’ll be playing the course.”

Crampton, an Australian who has been a resident of Texas since 1967, said he has won every way, including from in front. He is not concerned that experts say it is difficult for seniors to win after they reach 55.

“They tell me I have the body of a 35-year-old, and that’s what I go by,” said Crampton, a physical fitness devotee. “I certainly don’t feel too old to win.”

Asked if he thought he would take 11 weeks off as he did last season, he said: “I love to play golf. If I weren’t playing, I would be practicing, so I might as well play. Although we have been on cruises and to various places, my wife says we never take vacations unless they are golf-related.”

Notes

While the regular PGA Tour has lost several sponsors, the Senior Tour is flourishing. Vantage, which sponsors the richest senior event and also contributes bonus money to golfers who qualify, is upping the ante. Instead of $750,000 in bonuses and $750,000 to charity, it’ll offer $1 million for each.