Forsman Leads Champions Tour Birdie Barrage; Shoots Second-Straight 66

Endicott, NY, United States (AHN) – The Champions Tour birdie barrage, also known as the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, continued on Saturday at the En-Joie Golf Club.

Dan Forsman, a confident player who won last month, put up his second straight round of 66 and holds a one-shot lead over Brad Bryant going into the final round.

But this is no two-man shootout. With the number of birdies available on this old-style short, tree-lined golf course, there are a number of players in contention for the title.

Forsman’s in at 12-under par, 132 followed by Bryant at 133 after his 67 Saturday.

First round leader Wayne Levi rallied with two late birdies and finished at 10-under with left-hander Russ Cochran.

Two huge names are lurking three shots back at nine-under: rookie Mark Calcavecchia, playing in his first 50-and-over event and the decorated Nick Price. Price shot 66, Calcavecchia a 68 and they were joined at 135 by Billy Glasson.

Big Andy Bean had the best round of the day, a 64 that put him in contention at eight-under along with Loren Roberts.

Forsman looked as if he might run away from the field a bit as he started with three straight birdies and finished his front nine with a 32, five-under.

But things got tougher for him on the back nine and he became locked in a duel with Bryant.

The two golfers were tied at 12-under through 16 holes. Both missed short birdie putts at 16, then Forsman missed another makeable birdie from just inside 10 feet at 17.

In the meantime, Levi, who shot 65 on Friday, got himself back in the mix after a slow start with birdies at 16 and 18.

Bryant dropped out of his share of the lead with an errant tee shot at 18 that hit trees on the right and fell into the long rough. His second shot was wide left of the green. From there his pitch went 12 feet by and he missed his par putt to fall back to 11-under.

Scoring conditions were perfect. There was virtually no wind, it was overcast and low scores were the norm.

It’s expected to be that way again for Sunday’s finale.

And that means Forsman will have perhaps a dozen players ready to make a run at him.

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