ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- Playing in the final group with crowd favorite Joey Sindelar on his home turf can be daunting, especially when he's playing well. Eduardo Romero never wilted.
Romero watched Sindelar hole an amazing eagle shot at the turn Saturday, then made four birdies on the back nine to finish his second straight 7-under 65 and take a one-shot lead over Sindelar (65) and Fulton Allem (65) into the final round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.
"It's difficult. It's a little pressure," Romero said after escaping with the lead.
Romero, who began the day two shots behind first-round leader Joe Ozaki, had 16 birdies and one double bogey over the first two rounds and was at 14-under 130.
"I think the key is the putter," said Romero, who switched to a long putter midway through the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill in May. "Putts from 10 to 15 feet, it (birdie) is always on my mind."
Romero needed 27 putts to complete the round and has hit 21 of 28 fairways and 29 of 36 greens in regulation over the narrow, tree-lined En-Joie Golf Club course. But with 11 players within five shots of the lead and the five right behind Romero seeking their first Champions Tour victory, the Argentine native knew the final round would be a real test.
"It's a good match tomorrow," Romero said. "Behind us are many good players. I have to make 65 again."
Ozaki (70) was alone in fourth at 11 under. Bruce Vaughan (67), the 2007 runner-up in the inaugural year of this Champions Tour event, was tied for fifth at 10-under 134 with Ronnie Black (68).
Sindelar is seeking his first victory since turning 50 and joining the tour in April, and playing the course where he won the B.C. Open in 1985 and 1987 when it was part of the PGA Tour continued to be comforting as a large gallery followed his every move.
After parring No. 7 and hitting his drive at the par-5 eighth hole, Sindelar accepted a Binghamton Mets hat and a big hug from a longtime pen pal, donned the cap for the hole, and soon tied for the lead.
"When she gave me that hat, I thought, 'This has to be good stuff,'" said Sindelar, who grew up and still lives in nearby Horseheads.
It was.
Sindelar used a 3-wood on his second shot and made the green to set up a two-putt birdie from 40 feet to reach 9 under.
