Golf Roundup : O’Meara Shoots 65, Closes In on Second Straight Win

Mark O’Meara, seeking a second consecutive victory, shot a seven-under-par 65 Saturday to take a four-stroke lead after three rounds of the $500,000 Hawaiian Open at Honolulu.

O’Meara, who has not made a bogey in the tournament, has a three-round total of 198, which is 18 shots under par on the Waialae Country Club course. He has made 16 birdies and an eagle, and he is nine under par on par-five holes.

Jim Simons and Larry Nelson, a former U.S. Open and PGA title-holder, each shot a 68 in the sunny, breezy weather for a 202 total and a tie for second in the chase for the $90,000 first prize.

Ed Fiori and Larry Mize are at 203. Fiori shot a 67 and Mize a 69.

O’Meara’s effort, capped by a final-hole birdie after NBC concluded its coverage for the day, gave him an opportunity to become the first man to score consecutive victories on the PGA tour since Gil Morgan won the first two tournaments of 1983. O’Meara, the Comeback Player of the Year in 1984, scored the second victory of his career last week in the Bing Crosby National Pro-Amateur.

“He’s playing so well, playing with such confidence, it will be a difficult chase,” Simons said.

The group at 204 included Buddy Gardner, Craig Stadler and Scott Simpson. Gardner had a 65, Stadler a 66 and Simpson a 70.

Andy North, who shared the lead through the first two rounds, drifted back with a 73 and finished three rounds at 206. Masters champion Ben Crenshaw was at 207.

Tom Watson failed to make a move. He shot a 71 and was out of the title chase at 211.

At Sarasota, Fla., Nancy Lopez went from 14th place to a tie for the lead in a $200,000 LPGA tournament with a five-under-par 67 in the third round. She was tied at 211 with Patty Hayes, who shot a 71.

Lopez, who won her first LPGA event on this same 6,124-yard Bent Tree Golf & Racquet Club course in 1978, birdied three of her first four holes and had six birdies and one bogey for the day.

Hayes needed only 26 putts during her 37-34 round.

“Believe it or not, I really hit the ball terrible,” said Hayes, a 12-year veteran seeking her second victory. “I had 10 one-putt greens, and most of them saved pars.”

Hayes, who shot a 68 Thursday for a share of the opening-round lead and was second Friday after a 72, had two birdies and a bogey Saturday.

At Fort Pierce, Fla., Don January led after two rounds of a $200,000 seniors tournament, despite having a double-bogey six on the final hole.

At five-under-par 139, January held a one-stroke lead over Lee Elder, who came in with a 67--140.

January, up four strokes after the first round, three-putted the 18th and finished the round with a 72. He had his first bogey of the tournament on No. 17. He said poor chip shots on closing holes caused the bogeys.

“I surprised myself for 27 holes, but the way I played the last few holes left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said.