Golf Roundup : 50-Foot Eagle Putt Gives Love the Lead

Rookie Davis Love III rolled in a 50-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole Friday and took a one-shot lead in the third round of the $600,000 Isuzu Kapalua International golf tournament at Kapalua, Hawaii.

Love’s dramatic finish completed a round of two-under-par 70 and gave him a 207 total.

Andy Bean, playing immediately in front of Love, birdied the 18th to complete a 68 that gave him a momentary lead at 208 on the windswept Kapalua Bay course.

Paul Azinger, the second-round leader, struggled through the gusty winds to a 75 that dropped him three shots off the pace. Ben Crenshaw (71) and Tom Purtzer (71) were next at 212.

Masashi (Jumbo) Ozaki and Yasuhiro Funatogawa of Japan each shot a 68 and shared a two-stroke lead at 135 midway through the $500,000 Taiheiyo Club Masters at Gotemba, Japan.

American Kenny Knox had a 65 for a 137. Severiano Ballesteros of Spain was at 142 after a 72.

Ian Baker-Finch of Australia sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 69 and a 135 total that gave him a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the $200,000 Australian Open at Melbourne.

New Zealand’s Greg Turner, Sweden’s Magnus Persson and Australian Rodger Davis were tied at 138. Bernhard Langer of West Germany was another stroke back after a 70, while defending champion Greg Norman had a 72 and was at 142.