GOLF ROUNDUP : Stewart Hot; Couples, Norman Not

Payne Stewart, seeking his first PGA victory in almost two years, rode an eagle Saturday into a three-shot lead over Paul Azinger in the third round of the Memorial Tournament at Dublin, Ohio.

Stewart’s 35-foot putt on the par-five 15th served as the centerpiece to the day’s best round, a five-under-par 67, that left him at 202, 14 under.

“It was a tougher golf course today,” Stewart said. Twenty-m.p.h. winds made the 55-degree temperatures seem much more chilly.

Fred Couples, tied with Stewart for the 36-hole lead, shot 73 and was six shots off the pace. Norman, one back after two rounds, blew to a 74 and was eight behind.

Billy Glasson, with a 68, was third at 206.

Tournament host and founder Jack Nicklaus shot an 81 and trails the field at 226.

But Robert Gamez took the prize for trouble on the 392-yard, par-four third hole.

He played it in 12.

Gamez clipped a tree limb with his nine-iron second shot and watched the ball plunge into a pond. After taking a drop 85 yards from the pin, he hit three more balls into the water.

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Bob Charles, celebrating the 30th anniversary of his British Open championship, shot a four-under-par 66 in heavy rain to move into a four-way tie for the lead after two rounds of the $550,000 NYNEX Commemorative at Scarborough, N.Y.

The 57-year-old from New Zealand had the day’s best round over the Sleepy Hollow Country Club course and shared the lead at four-under 136 with Larry Gilbert (67), Tommy Aycock (69) and Chi Chi Rodriguez (70).

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Alice Ritzman, winless in 15 years on the LPGA tour, remained tied with Betsy King after three rounds of the Oldsmobile Classic, both at nine-under-par 207.

They were one stroke ahead of Trish Johnson, a two-time winner this season, and fast-charging Jane Geddes in the $550,000 event at East Lansing, Mich.

King, Ritzman and Johnson each shot one-under 71.

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Florida won the team championship and Arizona State’s Todd Demsey won the individual title at the NCAA men’s tournament at Lexington, Ky., when Georgia Tech’s David Duval couldn’t par the final hole.

Florida shot a five-under-par 283 to finish at seven-under 1,145 on the par-72 Champions course. Georgia Tech was one stroke back.

Demsey, who had three birdies Saturday in a three-under 69, finished with a 10-under 278. Duval’s 70 put him a stroke back in second.