Golf Roundup : Simpson Gets In From Cold Ahead by One

It was a day to remember for Scott Simpson, and not just because he took the lead in the third round of the Greater Greensboro Open golf tournament.

Simpson racked up three birdies on the back nine and shot a three-under-par 69 Saturday to move one stroke in front despite a morning snow shower at Greensboro, N.C.

“I’ve never hit a golf ball in the snow before,” Simpson said. “It was pretty neat for me. Being born and raised in San Diego, we don’t get snow--we don’t get days this cold.”

The temperature was 39 degrees, or 21 degrees with the chill factor provided by 30-m.p.h. winds.

Simpson’s three-day total of 212 put him just ahead of Tom Byrum, who had a 72. Simpson had birdies on the 11th, 16th and 18th holes.

Danny Edwards made birdies on three of his first six holes to go seven under par, but he slumped with five bogeys in a round of 76 and was at 215.

Also three shots back were Payne Stewart, Brian Clear, Gene Sauers and Clarence Rose, a North Carolina native looking for his first victory on the PGA Tour. Rose birdied his first two holes to go six under par, but a triple-bogey 8 on his 14th hole sent him to a 75.

The International team continued its domination of the $600,000 Chrysler Cup by sweeping the top two places in two-man best-ball play to open a 46-20 lead over the United States after three rounds of the PGA senior event at Sarasota, Fla.

Gary Player and Bob Charles were joined by the team of Bruce Crampton and Harold Henning in shooting six-under-par 66s to provide nine points apiece for the International team.

Peter Thomson and Roberto DeVicenzo shot a 68 to add five points as the Internationals earned 26 of 34 points awarded and moved within five points of victory over the U.S. team that won, 68-31, a year ago.

Christy O’Connor and Peter Butler added a two-under-par 70.

To win today, the U.S. team has to either sweep the first five places in individual medal play or take the top four spots, plus sixth and seventh place.