Okamoto Takes One-Shot Lead With Record 63

Masters Week 1988 is nearly a replay of last April for Ayako Okamoto and the Japanese media covering golf in the United States.

Last year, many of the Japanese media left the Masters after the second round, when all three Japanese pros failed to make the cut, and headed to Bernardo Heights Country Club to follow Okamoto, who was leading the Kyocera Inamori tournament.

This year, Okamoto, 37, shot a tournament-record, eight-under-par 63 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Colleen Walker, who had a 69, after three rounds of the San Diego Inamori tournament at StoneRidge Country Club.

Three Japanese television crews called from Augusta, Ga., to say they would be in Poway today, according to Joe Brucia, press room coordinator.

The most famous Japanese athlete--1987 LPGA player of the year, leading money winner ($466,034) last year and second-leading money winner this year ($91,551)--has had a longstanding battle with the Japanese press.

She shot a 69 and a 71 in the first two rounds and entered the third round trailing Walker by five strokes. Saturday, she missed just two greens and needed only 26 putts, all but one shorter than 20 feet, in her eight-birdie performance that gave her a 203 total.

As Okamoto was making her move, with nines of 30 and 33, Walker was playing in a threesome that teed off a half-hour later. Walker shot a 33 on the front nine and was at 10 under par after 11 holes, but she bogeyed No. 12 and No. 15, before sinking a birdie putt on No. 17.

Other players who will be trying to catch Okamoto today include Judy Dickinson (a 68 Saturday), Ok-Hee Ku (69) and Patty Sheehan (69), all four shots off the lead.