Full-time caddy Ten Broeck carries lead into third round

LAKE ORION, Mich. – Lance Ten Broeck chooses to carry a bag rather than swing a club for a living to make more money.

If Ten Broeck can keep his lead at the U.S. Senior Open for two more days, though, he will more than double his highest annual income on a golf course.

The full-time caddie for Tim Herron and part-time player shot a 68 Friday, putting him at 6-under-par 134 and one-shot ahead of first-round leader Tom Kite.

Former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett shot his second consecutive 69 and is four shots back.

Ten Broeck has a chance to make about $500,000 on Sunday after earning less than half that total in his best year as a caddie and when he made a career-best $146,568 in 1989 as a PGA Tour player.

“Caddying is a lot easier than playing,” he said. “That’s why you get paid more money to play.”

It won’t be easy for Ten Broeck to cash in at the Champion Tour’s fourth of five majors because he’s only a shot ahead of Kite, who has been sensational on his front nines at Indianwood.

Ten Broeck is also two strokes in front of a pack of six that includes Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin and Bernhard Langer.

“I figured I should be able to make the cut, but I never figured that I’d be in the last group on Saturday,” he said.

Ten Broeck has a 36-hole lead for the first time in his playing career. He had a share of the lead after two rounds at the PGA Tour’s Hall of Fame classic in 1982 and he finished tied for 12th.

The 56-year-old Ten Broeck finished tied for 71st at his only other Champions Tour event this year and estimates he plays about 25 rounds a year.

“I guess that means I’m well rested,” he joked.

Kite took advantage of what is regarded as the easier nine – the front – with a U.S. Senior Open nine-hole record 28 in the first round and stood up to the challenging back nine with a 31 Friday. But he has shot 6-over 76 on the other 18 holes.

The USGA set up a relatively short course to be a test for the best 50-and-older golfers in the world by letting the rough grow thick and keeping the tight fairways dry and fast, making approach shots to quick greens difficult.

It was tough enough to make the cut at 4-over 144, sending home notable players such as Hale Irwin (145) and Kenny Perry (149). Fred Couples (140) and Tom Watson (142) made it to the weekend.