Golf Roundup : A 69 Gives Reid One-Shot Margin Over Ballesteros

Mike Reid shot a two-under-par 69 Saturday and moved one shot in front of Severiano Ballesteros after three rounds of the $600,000 Westchester tournament at Harrison, N.Y.

Reid, a winner of more than $1 million who has not won in 11 years on the PGA Tour, completed three trips over the Westchester Country Club course in 203, 10 under par.

Ballesteros, a Spaniard who has won two Masters and a pair of British Open titles, surrendered the lead in a head-to-head battle with Reid and struggled to an even-par 71.

Officials questioned Ballesteros about a possible rule violation that was discussed by national television commentators.

Numerous viewers telephoned officials claiming that Ballesteros’ ball moved when he grounded his club behind it while in deep rough near the 14th green.

“The ball shook a little because the grass was very fluffy,” Ballesteros said. “It shook. But it did not change position.

After questioning Ballesteros and viewing film, officials determined there was no violation.

Chris Perry, son of former major league pitcher Jim Perry, had a tie for second until he put his third shot on the par-5 18th into a bunker and eventually settled for a bogey.

He finished with a 67 and was two shots off the pace at 205.

Billy Casper overcame a pair of double bogeys to shoot a 72 to take a one-stroke lead over faltering Chi Chi Rodriguez entering the final round of the $400,000 Senior Tournament Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Rodriguez, the defending champion, led Casper by one stroke entering the third round, but struggled through two bogeys and a double bogey for a 74.

Casper 54-hole total of 210, six under par, is one ahead of Rodriguez, Gary Player (69), Charles Owens (71) and Bruce Crampton, who birdied his final hole for a 71.

Patty Rizzo made a 75-foot eagle putt on the final hole to take a one-stroke lead over Betsy King after three rounds of the $350,000 LPGA Mayflower tournament at Indianapolis.

Rizzo’s eagle gave her a two-under-par 70 and a 207 for 54 holes, nine under par.

King, the leading money-winner on this year’s LPGA Tour, had taken the lead by making a six-foot birdie putt on the 429-yard, par-5 No. 18 hole, finishing with a 66--the day’s best round.

Colleen Walker, who began the day tied for the lead with Rizzo, was tied for third with Patty Sheehan and Bonnie Lauer at 209.

Jose Rivero of Spain tied the course record with a nine-under-par 63 in the final round and captured the $410,000 French Open golf title by one stroke over Briton Howard Clark at St. Cloud, France.