Golf Roundup : A 65 Gives Chip Beck Three-Shot Lead at New Orleans

Chip Beck shot a bogey-free 65 Saturday and opened up a three-stroke lead over Lanny Wadkins in the third round of the $750,000 USF&G; golf tournament at New Orleans.

Beck, who earlier this year scored the first PGA Tour victory of his 10-year career, in the Los Angeles Open, came from one shot off the pace with his seven-under-par round. He had a total of 198.

Beck pulled away with birdies on three of the last four holes at the Lakewood Country Club, capping the surge with a 20-footer on No. 18.

Wadkins, who led after two rounds, played with Beck and shot a 69, falling back to 201. Greg Ladehoff shot a 68 and moved into third place at 204.

Jodie Mudd (66), Lennie Clements (68), Brad Fabel (68) and Dave Rummells (69) were at 205.

Al Geiberger’s birdie putt on the 18th hole gave the United States a split of third-round matches and left little room for an International team comeback in the $600,000 Chrysler Cup senior tournament at Sarasota, Fla.

Geiberger’s 5-foot putt won the match for him and Gene Littler over Roberto De Vicenzo and Christy O’Connor. Each of the four-team, best-ball, stroke-play matches on the par-72 TPC Prestancia course was worth seven points.

Orville Moody and Chi Chi Rodriguez accounted for the other U.S. victory.

The Americans head into today’s individual stroke-play competition with a 40-20 lead. Five points go to the winners of each of the eight matches, and the United States needs victories in just three to clinch the cup.

Rosie Jones shot a three-under-par 69 to take a one-stroke lead with a 205 total in the third round of a $225,000 LPGA tournament at the Pasadena Yacht and Country Club in Gulfport, Fla.

Kathy Postlewait matched Jones’ 69 and was at 206. Donna White, who shared the 36-hole lead with Jones, had a 71 and was at 207.