Golf Roundup : Tim Simpson Moves Closer to First Win

Tim Simpson, seeking his first victory in nine years on the PGA Tour, shot a one-under-par 69 Saturday for a record three-day total of 197 and a two-shot lead over Bob Tway and Clarence Rose in the $350,000 Southern Open golf tournament at Columbus, Ga.

Simpson’s 13-under-par score for 54 holes was a tournament mark. The old record was 130 by John Schroeder in 1975 on the 6,791-yard, par-70 Green Island Country Club course.

Tway shot a 65, Rose a 69. Neither Rose nor Tway has won a PGA Tour tournament.

Mike Sullivan, the 1980 Southern Open champion, shot a 68 and was four shots behind Simpson. First-round leader Joey Sindelar struggled to a 72 and was at 203. He was tied with John Mahaffey, Bobby Clampett and Jeff Sluman.

“I played pretty solid,” said Simpson, who shot a 64 in each of the first two rounds. “I felt like it could have been better. I missed three greens and bogeyed all of them.”

Miller Barber shot a two-under-par 70 for a 205 total and a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the $230,000 Coca Cola Grand Slam Championship at the Oak Hills Country Club in Narita, Japan.

In second place was Masao Hara of Japan, who had a 72 over the 6,660-yard layout.

Britain’s Mark James had six birdies and an eagle as he shot a 66 for a 203 total and a one-stroke lead over South Africa’s Nick Price, entering the final round of the $175,000 Lancome Trophy at St. Nom la Bretche, France. Price shot a 67.