GOLF ROUNDUP : Stewart Out to Snap His Texas Jinx

Payne Stewart reversed a slide with a string of four consecutive birdies and moved into a two-stroke lead Saturday in the storm-shortened Byron Nelson tournament at Irving, Tex.

Stewart, who has lost three titles in as many years in North Texas, compiled a two-under-par 68 and completed two rounds in 135, five under par.

In the three years beginning in 1984, he lost the Colonial in nearby Ft. Worth, then the Nelson, then the Colonial--all in playoffs.

Tom Purtzer had an erratic 67 that included eight birdies, five bogeys and only five pars on the TPC at Las Colinas, a course that was flooded and unplayable Thursday, which led to the reduction of the tournament to a three-day, 54-hole format. He is tied for second at 137 with Mark Lye, Curt Byrum and Andrew Magee. Byrum matched the best round of the tournament with a 66.

Chi Chi Rodriguez capped a five-under-par 67 with a birdie on the last hole to tie George Archer for the lead after two rounds of the 54-hole Las Vegas Senior tournament.

Rodriguez, seeking his first victory of the year, tapped in a 14-inch birdie putt on the 18th hole to move into a tie with Archer at nine-under-par 135 with one round to play in the $450,000 event.

Mike Hill was two shots back at 137. Al Geiberger and Charles Coody were another shot back at 138.

Lee Trevino, who held a share of the first-round lead, shot an even-par 72 and was at 139.

Pat Bradley, seeking her third LPGA victory of the year, shot a four-under-par 68 for a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the Sara Lee tournament at Nashville, Tenn.

Bradley’s 36-hole total of six-under 138 was one shot better than Dawn Coe, who shot a second-round 69. Jo Anne Carner and Rosie Jones were next at 140. Jones moved into contention by tying the course record with a seven-under 65. Carner had a 67.