Romero takes Senior Open lead

Eduardo Romero of Argentina grabbed the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Senior Open with a five-under-par 65, conquering the Broadmoor East Course at Colorado Springs and a field that one day earlier was bedeviled by perilous pin placements.

“Fantastic round. I played great today,” said Romero, whose three-day total of nine-under 201 is two shots ahead of Fred Funk (69), who relinquished the lead with three bogeys on the back nine, and three ahead of John Cook (66).

Thirteen golfers finished in the red one day after only five players managed to overcome tricky winds and unfriendly pin placements to break par.

“The pins were a little easier than they were yesterday and the greens were a little softer,” Funk said. “I think the USGA kind of listened to some guys and they did a good job with the setup.”

Nobody capitalized better than Jeff Klein and Scott Simpson, who tied the course record with 64s.

Romero is trying to join compatriot Angel Cabrera, who won the 2007 U.S. Open, in returning to a hero’s welcome in his homeland.

“If I win tomorrow, first of all, it’s a dream for me,” Romero said. “But also, to win the tournament tomorrow is very important for Latin America and Argentina.”

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Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh slugged it out in the trees and on the greens at Firestone Country Club throughout an up-and-down day at the Bridgestone Invitational until they wound up in a tie for the lead with a far more conventional Lee Westwood.

Mickelson went six holes without hitting a fairway at Akron, Ohio, then poured it on late with three straight birdies until he finished with a bogey for a two-under 68.

Singh twice missed par putts from inside 3 1/2 feet, but chipped in from a scary lie above the third hole and managed a 69. Westwood drove the ball as well as he ever has and made long putts for birdie and par on his way to a 67.

They all were at eight-under 202, one ahead of Stuart Appleby of Australia, the only player to compete in all 29 of these World Golf Championship events since they began 10 years ago.

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Parker McLachlin eagled the par-four fifth hole and birdied three of the last five holes for a six-under 66 and a six-stroke lead after three rounds of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

McLachlin set the 54-hole record of 20-under 196 at Montreux Golf & Country Club.