ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) — The Latest from the 144th British Open on the Old Course at St. Andrews (all times local):
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12:20 p.m.
Another amateur is surging into contention at the British Open.
Former Georgia Tech star Ollie Schniederjans is 6 under through his first 10 holes Monday, pushing his overall score to 10 under. He has seven birdies and is just two shots off the lead, with the final group still more than two hours from teeing off.
The 22-year-old Schniederjans is one of three amateurs in the top seven, a group that includes co-leader Paul Dunne at 12 under. Another amateur, Jordan Niebrugge, is three shots off the pace.
Schniederjans was the world’s top-ranked amateur last year and is playing his final tournament before turning pro at next week’s Canadian Open.
In the meantime, the engraver of the claret jug is no doubt sweating a bit as Schniederjans moves up the leaderboard.
That would be a lot of letters to quickly get on the trophy.
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11:55 a.m.
Jordan Spieth has arrived at the Old Course.
The 21-year-old Texan stopped to sign a few autographs Monday before heading to the practice range to begin preparing for his shot at history in the British Open.
He’s already won the Masters and the U.S. Open, and he’s trying to join Ben Hogan as the only players to win the first three majors of a year. Spieth is one shot off the lead heading into the final round.
If he can win the Open, Spieth will go to next month’s PGA Championship trying to become the first player to win the modern version of the Grand Slam.
Spieth tees off at 2:20 p.m. in the next-to-last group with co-leader Jason Day.
Day is tied for the top spot with Louis Oosthuizen and amateur Paul Dunne, who will tee off in the final group at 2:30 p.m.
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11:35 a.m.
Bernhard Langer has made what could be his final crossing of the Swilcan Bridge.
The 57-year-old German got into the British Open for the first time since 2011 by winning last year’s Senior Open Championship. He proved himself worthy by making the cut, and finished up with an even-par 72 on Monday.
Langer knows that he’s a longshot to make the field when the Open returns to St. Andrews in 2020. So he lingered a bit on the famous stone arch in the 18th fairway, waving to the crowd and posing for pictures. He blew kisses after his final putt gave him a 1-over 289 for the week.
Langer never won the British Open but he usually played well at St. Andrews. In seven appearances at the Old Course, he missed the cut only once and tied for the runner-up spot behind Seve Ballesteros in 1984.
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11 a.m.
For the first time since 1988, the British Open is finishing on a Monday.
It looks like another day for going low at the Old Course.
The morning starters are again playing under partly sunny skies with only a light breeze, setting up a repeat of Sunday’s third round when the scoreboard was filled with red numbers. New Zealand’s Ryan Fox posted a 5-under 67 playing in the first group. South African Branden Grace is 6 under through 13 holes.
Of course, all eyes are on Jordan Spieth, who’s looking to pick up the third leg of the Grand Slam. He’s one shot off the lead. Then there’s Paul Dunne, positioned to be the first amateur champion since Bobby Jones in 1930. Dunne is tied for the top spot with Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen.
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