GOLF ROUNDUP : Wargo Has Lead in Seniors

A club pro with a short, punchy, self-taught swing lifted himself ahead of golf’s elite elders and took the third-round lead Saturday in the PGA Seniors Championship at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Tom Wargo, whose has worked as a steelworker and dairy farmer, shot a 67 and completed three trips over the PGA National Golf Club in 205, 11 under par.

In addition to a three-stroke advantage, the 50-year-old Wargo will take a casual attitude into today’s final round of the oldest event on the Senior Tour.

“I don’t think of myself as a club pro, or a touring pro,” Wargo said. “I’m just a player, trying to win a golf tournament the best way I can.

“I want to enjoy it. I want the guys I’m playing with to enjoy it. I want the fans to enjoy it.”

Isao Aoki was alone in second after a 69 with a 208 total.

Australian Bruce Crampton, also with a 69, and Tom Weiskopf (72) were tied at 209 and were the only others within six shots of Wargo, the 1992 PGA club pro of the year from Centralia, Ill.

“It’s a different day tomorrow,” Weiskopf said. “He’ll see a lot of names on the board that he knows, names that are seasoned, capable players.”

Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino both shot 73 and both are eight back at 213.

Wargo pulled away with birdies on three of the last six holes while Aoki and Weiskopf struggled.

David Edwards made bogeys on the final three wind-swept holes of the Harbour Town Golf Links at Hilton Head Island, S.C., to fall back into a tie with Paul Azinger and David Frost for the lead in the Heritage Classic.

Edwards, who jumped into the lead with four birdies on the front nine, gave it back with four bogeys over the last five holes. He finished with a one-under-par 70 for a nine-under 204 total.

Frost, who shared the second-round lead with Edwards and Masters champion Bernhard Langer, who opened the third round with a double bogey, ended with a 70. Azinger had less trouble with the wind and moved into contention with a 66. Langer shot a 74 and is four shots behind.

Betsy King shot a one-over-par 73 for a share of the third-round lead with Trish Johnson of Wales in the Atlanta Women’s Championship at Stockbridge, Ga.

Johnson, bidding for a second consecutive victory after winning the Las Vegas LPGA two weeks ago, had a 68, leaving the two with four-under 212 totals for 54 holes.

King and Johnson hold a one-shot lead over Kelly Robbins and Sherri Steinhauer.

Bob May of Anaheim Hills shot a five-under-par 67 and held a four-stroke lead over Perry Arthur of Plano, Tex., heading into today’s final round of the $150,000 Nike Shreveport (La.) Open.

May, a 1991 Walker Cup team member, had seven birdies and two bogeys over the Southern Trace Country Club course en route to a 54-hole total of eight-under 208.