Okamoto (63) the Big Story at StoneRidge

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

In 1987, a group of Japanese reporters left the Masters after the second round and headed to Bernardo Heights Country Club to follow Okamoto, who was leading the Kyocera Inamori tournament. It was an easy decision, because the three Japanese players competing in the Masters--Tommy Nakajima, Jumbo Ozaki and Isao Aoki--failed to make the cut.

Saturday, Okamoto shot a tournament-record, eight-under-par 63 for a three-round total of 10-under 203 in the San Diego Inamori Classic at StoneRidge Country Club. She holds a one-stroke lead over second-round leader Colleen Walker, who shot 69 Saturday.

Midway through the third round, as Okamoto birdied five holes on the front nine, the phones starting ringing in the press tent.

Nakajima and Aoki had made the cut at the Masters, but so what? Joe Brucia, the press-room coordinator, said three Japanese television crews called from Augusta to say they would be heading to Poway for today’s final round.

But don’t tell Okamoto.

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

At last year’s Kyocera Inamori, Okamoto said she likes Masters week because most of the Japanese reporters who cover her in the Nabisco Dinah Shore tournament then leave for Augusta. That means less pressure.

When told that members of the Japanese media were once again on their way from the Masters to California, Margie Kato, Okamoto’s manager and interpreter, said Okamoto “could care less.”

Last year, only one Japanese reporter covered the Kyocera Inamori from start to finish. This year, there have been three reporters and six photographers all week at StoneRidge. Okamoto, 37, is an even bigger celebrity after her 1987 LPGA success.

She was the first female athlete to be presented the Japanese Prime Minister’s Award by Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita for her contributions toward encouraging and developing sports in Japan.

Her weekly half-hour television show, “NEC Supergolf,” is Japan’s highest-rated golf show; there are four hours of golf coverage on Japanese television every Sunday, not including tournaments.

And she does endorsements for computers, games, food, toys and office supplies.

Although the Kyocera Inamori was the first of Okamoto’s four tour victories last year, she already has won the Hawaiian Ladies Open this year. But she tied for 35th at the Nabisco Dinah Shore last week and said she felt “tired and very heavy” coming into this tournament.

She shot a 69 and 71 in the first two rounds and entered the third round trailing Walker by five strokes. Saturday, she missed just two greens and needed 26 putts, including just one longer than 20 feet, in her eight-birdie performance.

“My driver wasn’t the best, but my iron shots were perfect,” Okamoto said through Kato. “I missed a lot of birdie putts that would have made my score in the 50s. It was kind of scary.”

Okamoto said her most impressive round ever was in the Lady Keystone Open last year, when she shot a final 64 to win. But she said Saturday’s round is one she will remember.

Okamoto said she had been hoping to shoot three under and thereby get herself in a good position for today. She said she didn’t play that aggressively because she was tired.

“That was probably better because then I’m not as tense,” she said.

Even after Okamoto made four birdies in the last five holes on the front nine, she said she was cautious because she was afraid she’d start making bogeys.

Okamoto birdied the second hole, then strung together birdies on the fifth, sixth and seventh. After taking par at No. 8, she kept charging to the lead with birdies on the par-4 ninth and par-5 10th.

She added birdies on Nos. 15 and 17.

The closest she came to taking a bogey was when she missed greens on the par-3 first hole and the par-4 eighth. But both times she chipped to within five feet and dropped putts to save par.

As Okamoto was making her move, Walker (68-67-69) was playing in a threesome that teed off a half-hour later.

Walker birdied the first two holes but gave a stroke back with a bogey at the par-3 fourth. She recovered with a birdie at No. 5 before parring the next four holes to make the turn in 33, then got to 10 under with a birdie on the par-4 11th.

But she bogeyed Nos. 12 (lipping out a five-foot par putt) and 15 (missing an 18-foot putt after her approach shot landed wide of the green). She got a stroke back with a birdie on the par-5 17th.

“I played well today,” Walker said. “I had a lot of long putts that could have fallen, but they just didn’t quite go in . . .

“You can’t take anything away from someone who shoots eight under. She’s a great player.”

Walker has been very consistent this year. She has placed in the top eight in four consecutive tournaments, has five top-10 finishes in seven events and is third on the money list with $84,686. Walker was second to Amy Alcott in the Dinah Shore last week.

She says she’ll need to shoot 6 under (65) to win today.

“You have to take chances when you can,” Walker said.

Others in contention include veteran Judy Dickinson (68), Ok-Hee Ku (69) and Patty Sheehan (69), all tied at six under, four shots behind Okamoto.

Lenore Rittenhouse, the surprise of the tournament the first two days, followed her 65-71 with a 72 to fall five back. Rittenhouse shot a one-under 34 on the front nine but bogeyed the 16th and 17th holes.