GOLF ROUNDUP : Weather Warms, Nichols Heats Up With 68

The weather warmed up and so did Bobby Nichols.

Nichols had five birdies in a round of four-under-par 68 Saturday and shares the lead with Bob Murphy heading into the final round of a $650,000 Senior tournament at San Antonio.

“It was obviously warmer and the wind was not as severe,” Nichols said. “There were better putting conditions. I’m putting good. If I keep doing that I’ll be OK.”

Murphy had a round of 70 to tie Nichols at 142. Nichols birdied the final hole when he hit a wedge shot to within three feet and made the putt.

Gay Brewer shot a 78 to win the Vantage Classics title for golfers age 60 and over.

Betsy King took the lead with an eagle on the 13th hole and finished a round of seven-under-par 65 with a birdie on the 18th hole to lead by one shot after three rounds of the Ping-Welch’s Championship at Tucson.

King is at 202, one shot ahead of Meg Mallon, who started the day with a two-shot lead and four strokes ahead of King. Mellon fell back with a 70. Mallon made a birdie at the final home to pull one stroke ahead of Jane Crafter, who had a 68.

Patti Rizzo had a 66 to finish at 205, one shot ahead of Dottie Mochrie (65) and Hollis Stacy (67).

King, the 1987 champion at Tucson, needs only two more victories to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. She made 10-foot birdie putts on the second and third holes, sank an eight-footer on No. 6 and a six-footer on No. 8, then caught Mallon at 12-under by making the fifth birdie of her round on No. 10.

King sank a 25-footer for her eagle on 13.

The third round of the Honda Classic at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was canceled because of wind that reached 60 m.p.h., and the tournament was reduced to 54 holes.

Larry Mize leads Fred Couples by one stroke heading into today’s final round.