Golf Roundup : Douglass Shoots a 69 and Leads by Five

Dale Douglass shot a three-under-par 69 Saturday to moved into a five-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the PGA Seniors Championship at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

While second-round leader Chi Chi Rodriguez slipped to a 76 Saturday on the 6,550-yard Champion course, Douglass pulled away from the other contenders with his 209 total, seven under par.

Harold Henning and Bobby Nichols are tied for second at 214 after posting scores of 67 and 68, respectively, in the third round. Rodriguez, Bob Charles and defending champion Gary Player are next at 215.

Douglass, who had finished the second round with four straight birdies, opened Saturday with four birdies on the first 10 holes before running into trouble.

He had bogeys on No. 13 and No. 14, both times two-putting from 10 feet after failing to reach the greens in regulation. He bounced back with a birdie on the final hole.

Greg Norman of Australia shot a five-under-par 68 and pulled away to a seven-stroke lead after three rounds of the $198,000 Australian Masters at Melbourne.

Norman’s total for 54 holes is 203, 16 under par.

Vaughan Somers had five birdies and posted a 69 to take sole possession of second place at 210. Peter Senior, Ian Stanley and Roger McKey were tied for third at 211.