GOLF ROUNDUP : Cook Is Ahead by Two in the Hawaiian Open

John Cook, who insists his comeback from career-threatening wrist surgery won’t be complete until he wins again, took sole control of the lead Saturday in the third round of the Hawaiian Open at Honolulu.

“Winning would mean a lot--another step, a very big step,” Cook said Saturday after shooting a 69 in blustery winds.

He completed three rounds at 199, 17 under par on the Waialae Country Club course that played much tougher with the return of the breezes.

The windy conditions, in sharp contrast to the gentle breezes of the first two days, opens up the competition, Cook said.

“This is the Waialae we all know,” he said. “Anybody can come from anywhere here. You don’t look back, you just try to keep playing forward.

“I’m much more comfortable now than at any time since I’ve come back. I’ve been there a few times (two playoff losses last year), and that helps. Before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.”

With one round to go in the chase for a $198,000 first prize, Cook held a two-stroke advantage over Gil Morgan, who remained close with a last-hole eagle-3.

Morgan, 44, a non-practicing optometrist in his 19th season on the PGA Tour, hit a three-wood second shot to within three feet of the cup for the eagle that completed a 69 and got him through 54 holes at 201, 15 under par.

Dave Rummells and Chip Beck were three behind at 202. Rummells moved into postion with a 65, the best round of the windy day, and Beck shot 70.

Three-time U.S. Open champ Hale Irwin survived some very erratic play--he hit only eight fairways and eight greens--with spectacular putting and salvaged a 68. He was tied at 203 with Ed Humenik, who had a 71.

“To get out of that with a 68 makes me very happy,” Irwin said. “I really got the maximum out of it.”

Irwin one-putted nine of the first 11 holes and used only 25 strokes on the greens.

Defending champion Patty Sheehan shot a one-under-par 70 to take a two-stroke lead over Judy Dickinson after two rounds of the Jamaica Classic at Montego Bay.

Sheehan, a stroke down when play began, was at four-under 138 after two tours of the 6,202-yard Tryall Golf and Beach Club course.

As first-round leader Sarah McGuire was sliding back in the field with a 76, Dickinson, with a 68, and Caroline Keggi, who shot 67, made moves to the top of the leader board.

“Nothing too spectacular,” Sheehan said. “I still had trouble concentrating. I’m having trouble reading the greens. I’m missing putts on the high side of the hole. I made a lot of three-footers coming in, and it saved me.”