Dent, Geiberger Play Third Round as if It’s Last : Senior golf: They are tied at seven under. Floyd is seven behind.

Convinced that expected rain would wipe out today’s final round of the Infiniti Tournament of Champions, Jim Dent and Al Geiberger played as if the Senior division championship was at stake Saturday.

Playing in the final twosome, the two friendly rivals wound up tied at 209, seven under par for 54 holes at the La Costa Resort. They are three shots ahead of Dave Stockton, George Archer and Mike Hill, who are at 212.

If they do play today, neither will have to worry about tournament favorite Raymond Floyd, whose dream of winning both the regular PGA and the senior title turned into a nightmare.

On the wet, soft course, Floyd shot a one-under-par 143 in the first 36 holes Friday to blow his chances of winning the regular division. But he was only four shots behind in the 50-and-older division.

The 10th hole Saturday ruined Floyd’s hopes for half a loaf. Still trailing by four shots, Floyd four-putted from 30 feet for a double bogey. He finished with a one-over-par 73 and is seven shots back at 216.

“I hit 45 greens in 54 holes, but was never close to the cup,” he said.

Dent went into the third round with a one-shot lead over Geiberger and George Archer. He and Geiberger said they were convinced this would be the finish.

“This course is at the saturation point,” said Geiberger, who shot a three-under 69. “The fairways were wetter than they were yesterday. The course couldn’t handle another inch of rain.”

“I think Jim and I both played as if it would end today. We seemed to feel the pressure coming home.”

Geiberger one-putted the first five holes Saturday and appeared to be ready to take command. The first was a 15-foot par-saver on No. 1.

He then sank putts of 10, two, five and six feet to give him three birdies in five holes. When Dent bogeyed the fourth, Geiberger led by three shots.

Geiberger had only 15 putts on the first 11 holes to go eight under. Meanwhile, the long-hitting Dent, who finished with a 70, was having putting troubles. He hit all nine greens in regulation on the front nine, but shot a one-over 37. “I missed some short birdie tries,” he said.

Dent caught up down the stretch. He made a birdie putt of 15 feet on 12, then moved to within a shot of the lead when Geiberger three-putted the 14th, missing a 2 1/2-footer. Dent pulled even with a 14-foot birdie putt on 17.

The last four holes at La Costa are known as the Longest Mile. Geiberger said he knew that Dent had the edge because of his long drives. Indeed, on the 569-yard 17th, after getting relief from a cart path bothering his stance, he almost reached the green on his second shot with his driver.

On the 421-yard 18th, he hit his drive so far right it cleared the trees and landed in an adjacent fairway. Then Dent hit a six-iron onto the green and two-putted for his par. Geiberger’s drive was down the middle, but he had to use a four-wood for his second shot. From the rough on the right, he chipped to within six feet and saved par with a clutch putt.

“I came out thinking this would be the last round,” Dent said, “and when Al dropped his first five putts, I thought the tournament was over. But, except for my early putting, I was playing about as well as I can play.

“I have to come prepared to play tomorrow, because our rules say there has to be a playoff. Maybe there will be one hole not under water.”