GOLF : Mickelson Rallies to Share Lead at Tucson With Hart

Two of the top young guns on the PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson and Dudley Hart, shot 69s and remained tied for the lead Saturday after three rounds of the $1.1-million Northern Telecom Open.

Mickelson, the 22-year-old left-hander who won this title as an amateur two years ago, and Hart, 24, who led through 54 holes here a year ago, completed 54 holes in 201.

That is 15 under par on the Tucson National Country Club course and three strokes in front of Larry Mize. Mize, a non-winner since his 1987 playoff victory in the Masters, shot a 70 in a brisk breeze.

John Flannery, the 1992 Hogan Tour player of the year; first-round leader Billy Andrade and Greg Twiggs were another shot behind at 205. Flannery and Andrade shot 69s, Twiggs 70.

Mickelson, who started the day in a tie for the lead, said he “was hitting it all over the place for a while.”

Hart made a 20-footer for an eagle on the second hole, chipped in for a birdie on the eighth and played the front in 34.

And when the two walked off the 10th green, Hart held a four-shot lead.

“I’m not playing well. I’m four shots back. And I’m in the trees with my second shot on 11,” Mickelson said. “That’s when things turned around for me.”

An 80-yard, eight-iron shot sliced around the trees and into the cup for an eagle.

Hart birdied the hole from 10 feet and retained a three-shot lead, but saw it dwindle when Mickelson holed a 20-foot chip on the 14th, then had a tap-in birdie on the 15th.

Hart surrendered the final stroke of his lead when he took three from the fringe on No. 18.