Padraig Harrington sits atop the leaderboard after two rounds of the TimberTech Championship, but the day belonged to defending champion Bernhard Langer, who fired a 63 Saturday to vault to within one shot of the lead in Boca Raton, Fla.
The Irishman carded a 5-under-par 66 to take sole possession of first at The Old Course at Broken Sound Club. Harrington, one of four co-leaders coming into the day, sits at 9 under for the tournament.
Langer opened with a pedestrian 71 but climbed 18 spots up the leaderboard Saturday with a bogey-free round that featured eight birdies, five of them coming on the back nine. It was Langer’s lowest round of the 2023 season. He’s vying for his fourth TimberTech victory.
“It’s not many times that you win a tournament three times that I’ve done already,” Langer said. “Florida’s been very good to me. Won Naples over on the other side a bunch of times and I’ve won this a few times and a couple other events.”
David Toms, also a co-leader after Friday’s round, shot 67 to join Langer in a tie for second.
South Africa’s Ernie Els (second round 65) and Shane Bertsch (68) are two strokes back in a tie for fourth. Another five players are bunched in a tie for 6th at 5 under, including Stuart Appleby, who vaulted 21 spots up the leaderboard with a 65.
Harrington also turned in a clean card, recording back-to-back birdies to on 16 and 17 to move into solo first. He’s seeking his second win of the season and sixth on the Champions Tour.
Langer opened his round with two birdies, finishing with three going out. But then he birdied four of the next five holes and added another on 16 to polish off his 63. The 66-year-old German shot his age or better for the 12th time on tour.
Els shot 70 on Friday but came out with two opening birdies. He posted birdies on the two closing holes to finish with six on the day without a bogey.
Appleby bounced back from an opening 72 with seven birdies against a bogey to put himself within striking distance.
–Field Level Media
