SAN ANTONIO – Marco Dawson birdied four of the first six holes Saturday and shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead in the Champions Tour’s AT&T Championship, and Bernhard Langer moved closer to wrapping up the Charles Schwab Cup before the season-ending event next week.
Dawson also birdied two of the last four holes to reach 12-under 132 on TPC San Antonio’s AT&T Canyons Course. He won his only title in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event in 2002 in the Web.com Tour’s LaSalle Bank Open.
“I’m not going to lose any sleep, believe me,” Dawson said. “I used to be a perfectionist, but my attitude now is to play like I’m in the pro-am. Have fun. It’s not life or death out there.”
Woody Austin was second after a 65, and Wes Short Jr. was 10 under after a 67.
Langer, a five-time winner this season, was tied for eighth at 7 under after a 66. He has a 771-point lead over second-place Colin Montgomerie in the Schwab Cup and can take the title with a three-way tie for seventh or better.
“It would be nice to settle things while I’m here,” Langer said.
Montgomerie was tied for 49th at even par after a 76. He had a double bogey on No. 18.
The top 30 on the money list after the tournament will advance to the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship next week in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Austin eagled the par-5 15th, hitting a 3-wood approach to 25 feet.
“I was 240 yards to the front of the green and 260 to the hole, and I hit a dead straight shot in there,” said Austin, who won his fourth PGA Tour title last year in the Sanderson Farms event in Mississippi. “It was the shot I was trying to hit. My putt was a double-breaker. I was just trying to get it close. I would have been happy with that, I admit.”
Canada’s Rod Spittle is tied for 18th at 4-under 140 (73-67).
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Stephen Ames had a share of 58th at 1-over 145 (72-73).