Golf: Calcavecchia, Frost, Cochran lead

Mark Calcavecchia surrendered a three-shot cushion to end the third round of the Senior British Open tied for the lead with fellow American Russ Cochran and South Africa's David Frost yesterday.

Calcavecchia, the co-leader after the first and second rounds at Walton Heath, was in cruise control on 10 under with six holes remaining before imploding when accuracy off the tee deserted him.

A disastrous triple-bogey 7 at No13 - after driving into the heather beside the fairway - was followed by another dropped shot on No16, although the 1989 British Open champion salvaged something from his round with a neat birdie at the last.

A level-par 72 left Calcavecchia - who is bidding to become the fourth player to capture the British Open double - with a 7-under total of 209 and gave a bunched-up field renewed hope in the Champions Tour's third major of the year.

Frost shot a bogey-free 66, the joint-lowest round of the week on the parkland course just south of London, while Cochran's 67 included a double-bogey 6 on No14.

Corey Pavin, the United States' 2010 Ryder Cup captain, and England's Barry Lane (both 69) were a shot adrift of the lead, with three more Americans - Chip Beck, Mike Goodes and Lee Rinker - on 5 under.

Three-time winner Tom Watson was one of four players a further stroke behind after a 69 in a third round played in overcast conditions with a light breeze.

Calcavecchia, who has been tied for the lead after every round this tournament, described his errant driving as "army golf", because it alternated between going left and right off the tee.

"Today was exactly what's been happening to me all year," said Calcavecchia, who is without a tournament victory in 2011. "I drive it great for a while and then I just lose it. That's what I was worried about - and then it happens to me. I have to figure it out by tomorrow.

- AP