Golf Roundup : Player Shoots a 68 and Leads Crampton by 3 Strokes

Gary Player, playing what he called his finest round of golf since winning the 1978 Masters, shot a four-under-par 68 Saturday and retained the lead after three rounds of the $300,000 Northville Invitational senior golf tournament at Jericho, N.Y.

Player, a 51-year-old native of South Africa, had a 54-hole total of 205 after three trips over the 6,475-yard Meadow Brook Club course.

Australian Bruce Crampton, who entered the round tied for ninth place, moved into second with a 67 for 208. Chi Chi Rodriguez, leading money winner on the 1987 PGA Seniors Tour, also had a 67 and went from an 11th-place tie to third at 209.

Dave Hill, with a 69, and Gay Brewer, who had a 70, shared fourth place at 210. Orville Moody, one stroke back starting the round, had a triple-bogey on the ninth hole, where he lost his ball, and wound up with a 73 for 211, tied with Jim King, who shot a 69.

Gene Borek had a 67, tying Crampton and Rodriguez for the day’s best round, but still was far back at 218.

“For the first time in tournament play, I had 34 putts in a round,” Player said. “Fortunately, I one-putted the final two holes (giving him four birdies for the round).

“I was driving extremely well. It was one of those days when the ball came out of the center of the club.”

South Korea’s Ok-Hee Ku, finishing her round in semi-darkness after a 140-minute rain delay, shot a three-under-par 69 for a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA’s $300,000 Lady Keystone Open at Hershey, Pa.

Ku, the first-round leader with a 67, was at 136, eight under par, after 36 holes.

Martha Nause (68), Margaret Ward (67) and Cathy Gerring (70) were tied for second at 139.

Cindy Hill and Marta Figueras-Dotti were next at 140, one stroke ahead of Shirley Furlong and Missie McGeorge.

Sally Little, who started the day one shot behind Ku and was tied for the lead after nine holes, finished with a 74 and a two-round total of 142 after a bogey at 16 and a triple-bogey-6 on the 17th.

Ku, a nonwinner in two years on the LPGA Tour, had a chance to widen her lead, but missed a four-foot uphill putt on the final hole.

Jan Stephenson withdrew because of pain from the broken ribs she suffered in an auto accident six weeks ago.