Golf Roundup : Hammond Ties Lohr for the Lead at Las Vegas

Donnie Hammond, bidding for a $250,000 bonus in the PGA Tour’s richest tournament, shot his second 66 Friday to tie Bob Lohr for the third-round lead at 202 in the $1,150,000 Panasonic Las Vegas Invitational golf tournament.

First prize in the five-day, 90-hole event is a record $207,000, but Hammond can increase his winnings to $457,000 with a victory. He is eligible for the bonus from the sponsor because he won the Bob Hope Classic--another five-day, desert-course event--in January.

Larry Nelson and Dave Rummells were one stroke off the pace.

Hammond had six birdies and no bogeys in his round at the Las Vegas Country Club.

Lohr managed only three birdies in his round of 70 on the narrow, tree-lined Desert Inn course.

Al Balding, looking for his first PGA victory in 29 years, shot a five-under-par 67 to take the opening-round lead in the rain-suspended $250,000 Sunwest Bank-Charley Pride Senior tournament at Albuquerque, N.M.

Play in the 54-hole event was suspended after a one-hour rain delay, with 21 players still on the course. The first round will be completed today before the start of the second round.