Non-Winners Walton and Walker Still Even, Lead Oakmont Field by 3

Robin Walton and Colleen Walker, two women from opposite sides of the country looking for their first win on the Ladies Professional Golf Assn. Tour, shot even par golf Saturday at Oakmont and shared a three-stroke lead in the GNA/Glendale Federal tournament.

Walton, from Clarkston, Wash., and Walker, from Bradenton, Fla., both birdied the final hole to complete 54 holes in 214, two strokes under par.

The unlikely pair--Walton has not won in nine years on the LPGA Tour, and Walker has not won in six years--started the day two strokes ahead and picked up ground.

Australian Jane Crafter, who shot a 71, and first-round leader Besty King, who had a 73, were tied for third at 217.

Eight players were deadlocked at 218, headed by Cathy Gerring, who had the day’s low round of 69. Also only four shots from the lead wereformer U. S. Women’s Open champion Jerilyn Britz, former Dinah Shore winner Juli Inkster, former UCLA basketball player Janet Coles, Sally Little, Cindy Rarick, Patti Rizzo and defending champion Chris Johnson.

Both Walton and Walker had scrambling rounds, saving par when needed and getting the most out of the greens they hit in regulation.

Walton said: “Overall, I did not hit the ball very well. It was definitely a struggle out there. I chipped and putted well. I had to. In the first 14 holes I only hit five greens, so I made a lot of up-and-downs.”

Walker said: “I had a little problem off the tee today and didn’t hit many fairways. I’m surprised I’m still leading.”

Walton jumped out to a two-stroke lead with birdies on the first two holes, only to slide back with four bogeys before she could right herself.

“I was hooking my tee shots and that hurt,” Walton said. “On No. 12, I hooked one off the world and was lucky to make bogey.”

The slender redhead, who has a degree in microbiology from the University of Washington, brought herself back to the front with two birdies on the final three holes.

“After No. 14 I began to hit the ball better, and getting those two birdies on No. 16 and No. 18 got me in a better frame of mind for tomorrow. I feel if I hit it better tomorrow, I have a real chance to win.”

Walton’s best previous finish in nine years is a tie for third last year in the Henredon tournament at High Point, N. C.

Walker, one of many Florida State graduates on the LPGA Tour, had an equally eventful round of up-and-down par saving holes.

She had two birdies and three bogeys on the front nine before settling down for eight straight pars. It wasn’t until the 18th hole, where she sank a 10-foot birdie putt, that she looked at the leader board and found that she and Walton were still tied for the lead.

“I knew Robin and I were tied, but I was surprised that nobody else was under par,” she said.

Walker, whose best finish in six years is a second place tie last year at Portland, Ore., said she did not look at the leader board because she had been taught to play her own game.

“I think it’s a feat for me to be under par after 54 holes on a course like Oakmont,” she said.

Walker gained a measure of notoriety last year when she twice signed incorrect scorecards in a four-week period and was disqualified. The second time it occured was in the MasterCard Pro-Am in New York, where she had finished second before discovering the error. Walker turned herself in, which cost her an $18,500 check.

Both women said they had no illusions that being paired together today in the final round could create a match-play situation.

“There are too many good players too close to us to think about that,” Walton said.

King, 1984 LPGA Player of the Year, finished with a flourish with birdies on the final two holes to jump back in contention.

King had an impressive birdie on No. 18, the 427-yard par 5 finishing hole. She hit her 4-wood second shot 210 yards to an uphill green and took two putts from 10 feet for her birdie.

“I think tomorrow I’ll have to play well, maybe shoot a 68 or 69, to have a chance. I’ll probably be a little bit looser than Robin or Colleen so we’ll see what happens.

“I’ll take a look after nine holes and see what I have to do, and then I’ll try and do it.”

Gerring, who lost last Monday in Hawaii in a playoff with Jane Geddes, played the most solid golf of the day. She missed only one green, and that by only four feet, and if she had been putting well she could be far in front.

“I’ve had seven three-putt greens in the last two days,” she said, “but that’s not unusual for me. I just hope the course keeps playing long because as long as it’s that way, I figure it’s to my advantage.”