GOLF ROUNDUP : Laoretti (67) Leads as Stockton (77) Fades

Cigar-chomping Larry Laoretti took the lead after 54 holes of the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday when second-round leader Dave Stockton collapsed with five bogeys in a seven-hole stretch at Bethlehem, Pa.

Laoretti, who started the third round seven strokes behind Stockton, shot a four-under-par 67 to lead the field by one stroke at six-under-par 207. Stockton shot a 77 and is at 210.

Laoretti rolled in five birdies as the leaders emulated the mass retreat of last month’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Laoretti never played on the PGA Tour. He joined the Senior group in 1989 and celebrated his 53rd birthday Saturday.

Al Geiberger shot a 71 to take the runner-up spot at 208. Gibby Gilbert was another stroke back after a 73, ending his string of sub-70 rounds at eight.

Then came Stockton, Gary Player (71) and Jim Colbert (73) at 210. Charles Coody was at 211 after a 73.

Stockton wasn’t the only victim of the tricky, undulating greens on the 6,700-yard Saucon Valley Country Club course.

Jack Nicklaus started the day four under, but dropped to even par after a 75 that included five bogeys. Simon Hobday also fell to even par after a 76, and Lee Trevino shot a 76 to fall nine strokes off the pace at 216.

Laoretti was the only player among the leaders to improve his play over the second round, and he had an explanation: “It was not their birthday. It was my birthday.”

Ed Dougherty, still winless at 44, shot a five-under-par 66 to take the lead after the third round of the $1.1-million Anheuser Busch Classic at the Kingsmill Country Club in Williamsburg, Va.

Dougherty is at 12-under-par 201. David Peoples shot a 67 and is at 202. Bill Britton moved up to 203 with a 64. Bruce Lietzke (68) and second-round leader Morris Hatalsky (72) are also at 203.

Last year Dougherty had his most successful season of a career that began in 1975. He finished third in the Hawaiian Open, got into a playoff in the Greater Milwaukee Open and finished 82nd on the money list.

“It’s not hard if you say it fast,” Dougherty said, “but all you have to do is shoot the low round tomorrow.”

Meg Mallon holed an 87-yard wedge shot for an eagle on the 17th hole, helping her tie Betsy King and Katie Peterson-Parker for the second-round lead in the LPGA Phar-Mor in Youngstown, Ohio.

King, Mallon and Peterson-Parker were at six-under-par 138 on the 6,297-yard Squaw Creek Country Club course, one shot ahead of five golfers, including Beth Daniel and first-round leader Denise Baldwin, at 139.

Also at 139 were Donna Andrews, Rosie Jones and Dottie Mochrie. Nancy Lopez, still seeking her first title of the year, was tied with Brandie Burton at 140.

“It’s pretty much a shootout,” King said.

King shot a 67 that included five birdies in six holes. Mallon had a 69 and Peterson-Parker a 68.