Sanders Surges Into PGA Lead With 69
Hebert, Snead, Ferrier Close Behind; Palmer Slips to 216 After Late Collapse
AKRON, Ohio, July 23 — Doug Sanders, the lively young professional from Miami Beach, moved to the front of the PGA Championship field today with a one‑under‑par 69, giving him a three‑round total of 210 on the sun‑baked Firestone course. Sanders’ round, marked by a brilliant outward 32, placed him one stroke ahead of Jay Hebert, Sam Snead, and Jim Ferrier.
Ferrier produced the day’s finest golf, a course‑record 66 that broke the 67 posted earlier in the week by Arnold Palmer and matched by Hebert. Snead, steady as ever, returned a 70, while Hebert slipped to a 72 after bogeys at the 15th and 16th.
Don January stands at 212, with Doug Ford and Fred Hawkins at 214. Dave Marr and Dow Finsterwald are at 215. Palmer, whose hopes for a sweep of the year’s major professional titles had stirred great interest, fell back to 216 after a costly finish.
Sanders’ Fast Start
Sanders began the day two strokes behind the leaders but quickly erased the margin with five birdies on the front nine. A double bogey interrupted his run, yet he still reached the turn in 32. His back nine proved more difficult, with bogeys at the 12th, 13th, and 18th, though he regained a stroke at the 15th with a 25‑foot putt.
His 69 was enough to give him the lead entering Sunday’s final round.
Palmer’s Late Collapse
Palmer, even par through 15 holes, encountered severe trouble at the long 18th, a 625‑yard par five guarded by a pond. His drive found a trap, his second faded into deep rough, and his third entered a lateral water hazard. After a penalty drop, he reached the green but three‑putted from 22 feet for a triple bogey.
Still shaken, he bogeyed both the 16th and 17th holes, finishing five over par for the last three holes and dropping six strokes off the lead.
Notable Developments
The cut for the final round was set at 224. Ben Hogan, returning to the PGA after a long absence, missed it with a 78 for 225. Defending champion Bob Rosburg and former U.S. Open winner Jack Fleck also failed to advance.
Cary Middlecoff was warned for slow play after taking four hours and twenty minutes to complete his round, during which two threesomes played through.
Tournament officials announced a record purse of $63,130, with $11,000 to the winner.
Ferrier’s Record Round
Ferrier, winner of the 1947 PGA Championship, called his 66 “the best round of my life, considering the course.” His putting was exceptional, and he moved into strong contention at 211.
Snead, three‑time PGA champion, played a steady round, finishing with a 33 on the inward nine. Hebert matched par on the outward nine but faltered late.
Leaderboard After Three Rounds
- Sanders — 210
- Hebert — 211
- Snead — 211
- Ferrier — 211
- January — 212
- Ford, Hawkins — 214
- Marr, Finsterwald — 215
- Palmer, Souchak, Kroll, Ellis — 216
The championship concludes Sunday.
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Courtesy of The San Francisco Cronicle July 24, 1960 via Newspapers.com