MADISON, Miss. — Will MacKenzie simply “spaced out” on the last hole.
Penalized two strokes for moving impediments in a hazard, MacKenzie lost three shots on 18 to give the Viking Classic lead back to Mark Turnesa.
MacKenzie’s 8 Saturday on the par-5 18th left him tied for second with Brian Gay, two strokes behind Turnesa.
“I made a huge mistake,” MacKenzie said. “A very costly mistake.”
Turnesa, a PGA Tour rookie who also topped the second-round leaderboard, shot a 6-under-par 66 for a 17-under 199 total. MacKenzie and Gay had 67s.
MacKenzie, who has one tour victory, the Reno-Tahoe Open in 2006, opened with birdies on the first two holes and made the turn at 32.
The Viking Classic is the opening of the Fall Series, in which players have seven events to finish in the top 125 money winners and secure playing privileges for next year. Turnesa ranks 169th on the money list with $263,000. MacKenzie is 178th with $235,997. The winner this week will earn $648,000.
Higgins, Mohler share lead.
U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins and Noreen Mohler shot even-par 71s to share the first-round lead in stroke-play qualifying for the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at Tulsa, Okla.
Knodt takes one-shot lead.
Howie Knodt shot a 3-under 68 to take a one- stroke lead after the first round of stroke- play qualifying in the USGA Senior Amateur Championship in Fort Worth, Texas.
The Associated Press
