Golf Roundup : A 66 Puts Hope Winner Pavin One Ahead in Phoenix

Corey Pavin, winner of the Bob Hope Classic last week, birdied two of his last three holes for a five-under-par 66 that gave him a one-stroke lead over Paul Azinger Saturday after three rounds of the $600,000 Phoenix Open golf tournament.

“Sure, I’d rather be leading,” Pavin said, looking ahead to today’s final round in the chase for a $108,000 first prize.

“I’d rather be leading by five or six. But leading by one, well, that’s just one more shot I have to play with.”

Pavin completed 54 holes on the new TPC course in suburban Scottsdale, Ariz., in 13-under-par 200.

But there are 16 players--including Fuzzy Zoeller, defending titleholder Hal Sutton and PGA champion Bob Tway--within five strokes.

Azinger was the closest but didn’t know it until the 18th hole.

“I didn’t see a leader-board until I was on the 18th green,” he said. “I was just out there minding my own business. I figured 14 or 15 under was leading.”

Azinger did not make a bogey in a round of 65 that, he said, was compiled “in perfect weather conditions. That’s why you’re seeing such low scores.”

The lowest score of the tournament was turned in by Doug Tewell, who birdied six times in a stretch of seven holes and shot a 62.

He was tied at 202 with Zoeller, who holed out a 177-yard, 5-iron shot for an eagle 2 in his round of 66, and Jay Haas, who had a 68.

Tway shot a 63 that lifted him to 203.

The group at 204 included Mark O’Meara (70), Mark Calcavecchia (70), J.C. Snead (66), Bobby Wadkins (67) and George Burns (68).

Sutton, who had a 67, was in a group at 205.

Veteran Carole Semple Thompson and newcomer Joan Pitcock battled their way into today’s championship match of the 55th Doherty Challenge Cup tournament at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Thompson, 38, of Sewickley, Pa., scored a 1-up win over Lee Ann Hammack of Oklahoma City in one semifinal, and Pitcock, 19, of Fresno, had to go 19 holes before defeating tournament medalist Robin Weiss of Palm Beach.