Golf Roundup : Glasson Wedges His Way Past Calcavecchia at Doral

Billy Glasson was just trying to stay close to Mark Calcavecchia.

Instead, Glasson sank a 50-foot wedge shot from a bunker on the final hole Saturday to re-establish a one-stroke lead over Calcavecchia after three rounds of the $1.3-million Doral Open golf tournament.

“I just didn’t want to let Mark get two shots out in front,” said Glasson, who claimed he wasn’t trying for the birdie that he got. “I didn’t want to leave it in the bunker. I didn’t want to get too cute and then hit it in the water or anything like that.

“I was thinking if I could get it up and down, we’re still tied and that’s great. If I make (bogey) five, that’s OK, too. I just didn’t want to let Mark get too far ahead.”

Glasson entered the final hole tied for the lead with Calcavecchia but put himself in a difficult position with a poor drive before knocking his second shot into the bunker in front of the 18th green on Doral’s Blue Monster course.

His final shot gave him a five-under-par 67 and a total of 13-under-par 203.

“I don’t think I’ve holed a bunker shot in two years,” said Glasson, who had holed two chip shots Friday. “It was a great shot at the right time. But nobody was more surprised than I was.”

Calcavecchia, already a two-time winner this year, finished his round of 66 and was standing by the green when Glasson’s long shot trickled into the cup and deprived him of a tie for the lead.

Calcavecchia didn’t change expression.

“It didn’t really faze me,” Calcavecchia said. “What other people do, I can’t control. Maybe he’ll do it again tomorrow on the same hole. If he does, that’s good for him. There’s nothing I can do about it.

“The only thing that’s going to be on my mind is my own game, what I’m doing and what I have to do.”

Buddy Gardner, who had a 69, and Bruce Lietzke, who shot a 68, were tied for third at 207. Fred Couples and John Huston shot 70s and were at 208.

U.S. Open champion Curtis Strange managed a 69 despite a cold and moved into a tie with Australian Steve Elkington at 209. Elkington shot a 68.

Defending champion Ben Crenshaw again matched par 72 and was at 211; British Open champion Seve Ballesteros of Spain was at 213 after a 71, and Masters titleholder Sandy Lyle of Scotland also had a 71 and was well back at 216.

Nancy Brown overcame winds gusting to 35 m.p.h. and birdied four of her final five holes for a four-under-par 68 to take the lead after two rounds of the $400,000 Women’s Kemper Open at Prince- ville, Hawaii.

Brown was at 132 heading into today’s final round of the rain-plagued tournament, which was shortened to 54 holes when Thursday’s opening round was washed out and further reduced Friday when two holes at the Princeville Resort were unplayable.

Colleen Walker shot a 69 and was second at 133, one shot ahead of Jane Geddes, who also shot a 69. In fourth place at 135 were Nancy Lopez and Beth Daniel.

Harold Henning and Gene Littler shot 70s to share the lead at 140 after two rounds of the $300,000 Senior Challenge at Naples, Fla.

Henning had a chance to take sole possession of the lead heading into today’s final round, but he took a bogey on the 18th hole.

“A bogey on 18 leaves a bit of a sour taste,” Henning said. “I’m just going to come out tomorrow and play my game and let others try to catch me.”

Littler and Henning were two strokes ahead of Bruce Crampton.

Bob Charles, who shot a 69, was tied with Chick Evans and Miller Barber at 143.

Evans, a former club pro from Kingston, N.Y., never won a cent on the PGA Tour and his best finish this year was 58th in the PGA Seniors Championship.