Golf Roundup : Azinger Struggles to a 73 in Wind; Lead Is Cut to One

Paul Azinger struggled to a wind-blown 73 Saturday and saw his lead shrink to one shot over Tom Kite in the third round of the $750,000 Bay Hill golf tournament at Orlando, Fla.

Kite matched the best score of the day, a two-under-par 69, to chop five strokes off Azinger’s lead over the final nine holes.

Azinger, who has led throughout the tournament, had a six-shot advantage at the turn and was threatening to run away from the pack before he bogeyed three of the last five holes. The last, on the 18th hole, finished off a two-shot swing in Kite’s favor.

Azinger, the 1987 player of the year, was at eight-under-par 205 after three trips around Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club course.

Kite, the 1982 Bay Hill champion, was at 206.

Azinger’s troubles began on the 14th hole, where he three-putted for a bogey. He drove into a bunker, hit the lip coming out and had to make a 15-footer for a bogey on the 16th, then drove into the left rough and bogeyed the 18th, moments after Kite had hit a 5-iron within a couple of feet of the pin for a birdie.

It was another two shots back to 44-year-old Dave Eichelberger, who fought his way to a 71 and a 208 total.

Andrew Magee and defending champion Payne Stewart were the only others in the field within six shots of the leader going into today’s final round of the chase for a $135,000 first prize.

Magee was at 209 after a 73. Stewart had a 70 and was at 210.

Laura Davies shot a three-under-par 69 and took advantage of Robin Walton’s problems on the back nine to take a two-shot lead after three rounds of the $300,000 LPGA Tucson Open.

Davies birdied the final hole for a 10-under-par 206 after 54 holes.

Patty Sheehan had an erratic 72 and was at 208.

Walton, who led by three strokes entering the round, bogeyed five holes on the back nine and shot a 76 for a 209 total.

Al Geiberger shot a three-under-par 69 to retain a two-stroke lead entering the final round of the $225,000 Arizona Senior tournament at Sun City West, Ariz.

Geiberger added his 69 on the 6,672-yard Hillcrest Golf Club to his course-record 63 Friday for a two-day total of 12-under-par 132.

Dave Hill shot his second 67 and was at 134, one stroke ahead of Orville Moody, who also shot a 67.

Harold Henning, winner of last week’s PGA Seniors Tour event at Simi Valley, Calif., and Gay Brewer matched their first-round 68s and were at 136.