GOLF ROUNDUP

Betsy King lost all of a five-shot lead, then rallied for a two-over-par 73 and a one-stroke victory over Ayako Okamoto in the LPGA Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

Okamoto, followed by a huge gallery, shot a four-under 67 on the Wykagyl Country Club course, the day’s lowest score.

But King, the defending champion, made her second birdie of the day on No. 15 and parred in for a five-under 279 total. It was her 25th career victory and second this season, marking the eighth consecutive year King has won at least twice.

King earned $75,000, giving her $298,853 this year.

Cindy Figg-Currier, a non-winner in eight years, began the day in second, but she stumbled to a 74 to finish four back at 283, tied with Elaine Crosby and Caroline Keggi.

Mike Hill shot a bogey-free 67 to hold off Bob Charles by two shots in the $500,000 Senior Tour event at Aurora, Ill.

Hill finished at 16-under-par 200. Charles fired a 64, including eight birdies, to finish at 202. Al Geiberger shot a 68 for 204.

Charles’ charge ended on the final hole, when he missed a six-foot birdie putt that would have forged a tie. Hill birdied the par-five hole for good measure.

It was Hill’s seventh senior tour title and second this year. The $75,000 first prize boosted his 1991 earnings to $447,543, second behind Chi Chi Rodriguez.

Dillard Pruitt, a six-year pro who had never finished higher than ninth on the PGA Tour, shot a final-round six-under-par 64 for a two-stroke victory in the $700,000 event at Chattanooga, Tenn.

Pruitt birdied his first three holes to wipe out Lance Ten Broeck’s one-stroke lead. He finished at 20-under 260, tying the tournament record set last year by Peter Persons on the 6,641-yard Valleybrook Golf and Country Club course. He earned $126,000.

Ten Broeck finished at 262. Dave Rummells shot the low round in the humid 90-degree heat, a 61 that left him tied for third with John Daly, Steve Lowery and Jim Gallagher Jr. at 264.