Mason takes one shot lead into Final Round

England's Carl Mason edged a step closer to winning his first major title when he carded a five-under-par 65 to move into a one-stroke lead going into the final round of the Senior British Open at the Westin Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland.

The 50-year-old recorded six birdies and dropped just one shot but his exploits were still almost overshadowed by a rampaging Jack Nicklaus who played his first 14 holes in six under par before dropping two shots down the stretch.

Mason will go out at 11.15am tomorrow on 14-under 195, and one shot ahead of America's DA Weibring. Tom Kite, Bruce Summerhays and Tom Watson share third place on 11-under 199 while Nicklaus is tied for ninth after completing a three-under 67.

The Golden Bear also holds a two-shot lead over New Zealand's Bob Charles in the race for the prize awarded to the leading competitor aged 60 or over.

Mason went out with a one-shot lead and consolidated his position with birdies on the fifth and seventh. He carded two more birdies on the 415-yard 10th and the 175-yard 11th but then dropped his first shot for 43 holes when he drove into trouble on the 412-yard 14th and had to take a penalty drop.

That error meant that the Englishman was caught by Weibring and Kite but he pulled ahead again when Weibring failed to match his second successive birdie on the 18th and Kite recorded an ugly double bogey on the 17th.

"I have to admit I felt a bit flat during the first few holes which I don't suppose was all that surprising considering I played the first two rounds with Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson," said Mason. "But the birdies on five and seven settled me down and I was fine after that."

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