Golf Roundup : Sauers Shoots a 64 to Tie Jones for Hilton Head Lead

Gene Sauers birdied the last hole to gain a share of the 54-hole lead Saturday in the $650,000 Heritage golf tournament at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

And it came as a disappointment to his huge gallery of friends, family and neighbors from nearby Savannah, Ga.

Moments earlier, a groan had gone up from the crowd that gathered near the lighthouse at the 18th green because he’d just missed a second eagle of the day.

Sauers had chipped in from about 40 feet for an eagle 3 on the fifth hole. On the 18th, needing another eagle to take the lead by himself, he hit a 5-iron second shot dead on line with the flag. The ball stopped one roll short of falling in.

Sauers, however, was far from disappointed after he tapped in for a seven-under-par 64 that tied him with Steve Jones.

Each completed three trips over the Harbour Town Golf Links in 200.

Jones, who got into this invitational field as an alternate, had a bogey-free 67 in the twice-delayed third round.

Mark Hayes, who led through the first two rounds, and Scott Hoch were two shots off the pace at 202. Hayes had a 70, and Hoch shot a 67.

Play was held up on two occasions for a total of 1 hour 13 minutes by a series of electrical storms and rain squalls that swept over the resort island.

South African Harold Henning shot a five-under-par 67 and took a one-stroke lead at 134 after the second round of the $30,000 Grand Slam senior tournament being played in the Tokyo suburb of Nartia, Japan.

Gene Littler and fellow American Miller Barber were tied for second at 135. Each had a 67 in the second round.

Ian Woosnam, chipping in twice from off the green, had a four-under-par 68 to hold off a spirited challenge by Severiano Ballesteros and take a two-shot lead into the final round of the $250,000 Cannes Open at Cannes, France.

The 5-foot 3 1/2-inch Welshman was at 11-under-par 205. Ballesteros also had a 68 as the pair battled head to head.