Clark Dennis is hoping for a double success story for his family after surging into contention at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open.
The American, a six-time winner on the Legends Tour, mixed seven birdies with a lone bogey for an impressive 64 that saw him climb to eight under and set the clubhouse target in the third round at Sunningdale.
Across the Atlantic, Dennis’ son, Will, is caddying for PGA TOUR professional Sam Stevens at this week’s 3M Open in Minneapolis, with Stevens in a tie for fourth at the halfway stage.
While thrilled to have made a big move up the leaderboard and boosted his hopes of a first Major title in the senior ranks, his focus for the rest of Saturday was already turning to the fortunes of his son.
“I think I'm going to be watching that tournament and see if they can maybe get a win this week at the 3M,” he said.
“He's caddied a lot for me. He's a very good caddie. He and Sam were childhoods friends.
“They have had a good run, top 40 in the FedExCup and shot nine under on the first day. They have a late tee time today, so I'm going to be watching closely.”
After taking advantage of the par five first for the second day running, Clark added back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth, before bouncing back from a bogey at the short eighth with a gain at the driveable ninth.
A run of three birdies in a four-hole stretch from the 11th through to the 14th then lifted the 59-year-old to eight under, before he parred his way home.
“I played very well,” said Clark. “I got off to kind of a shaky start. I wasn't hitting it solid on the first couple holes.
“I scraped in a birdie on one and got a really nice up-and-down on two out of the bunker. Then kind of started coming together. I hit it close on three. Hit a nice shot in there on four and made a birdie.
“My only hiccup was I had kind of a nasty iron shot on and 8 hit it in the right bunker and didn't get up-and-down. Other than that, it was pretty much a perfect round of golf. I played very well.
“I'm in good position now. If I can go out and have another really good round tomorrow, at least gives me a chance.”
Clark finished in a tie for 16th when Europe’s only senior Major last visited Sunningdale in 2021.
“I actually barely made the cut that week,” he reflected of his performance four years ago.
“I missed the putt on 18. I thought I missed the cut. Then had a really good weekend. Shot 66, 67 or something.
“I love this golf course. It's one of the best I've ever played. It's just so fun to play. I wanted to make the cut this week just so I can play it four times. It is really amazing.”
