GOLF ROUNDUP : Lidback Can Look at Two-Shot Lead

As she was enjoying her third consecutive outstanding round in the LPGA Championship at Bethesda, Md., Jenny Lidback didn’t even sneak a peek at the leader board.

“I had no idea what anyone else was doing. I could have been in fourth place,” she said. “I didn’t know where I stood until a reporter told me I had a two-shot lead.”

Being ahead in any tournament is not a familiar position for Lidback. Her bogey-free 68 Saturday put her at nine-under-par 204 after three rounds of the major tournament.

By day’s end, Lidback learned that Hall of Famer Patty Sheehan and Cathy Johnston-Forbes were right underneath her name on the leader board.

“I didn’t look because there’s too much golf left,” Lidback said. “I didn’t think it was that important.”

Lidback, 30, has never finished higher than fifth place in any event and never higher than 68th on the money list during her five years on the tour.

She moved ahead of the pack with a birdie on No. 3 and got successive birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 before finishing with eight pars.

Sheehan and Johnston-Forbes each shot 70. Sheehan missed a five-foot par putt on No. 16, but birdied 18 to move back into second place. Her scrambling round included four birdies and three bogeys.

She will be paired with Lidback in the final twosome today.

“Jenny’s playing well enough to win,” Sheehan said. “I think she’s the best player out there, but there are a lot of players who can win this tournament. It should be a very interesting day tomorrow.”

Barb Bunkowsky shot a 69 for a 207 total. Cindy Rarick (73), Patti Rizzo (67) and Cindy Figg-Currier (67) were next at 208.

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Lee Janzen and Duffy Waldorf birdied the final hole and moved into a tie for the lead after a massive collapse by the field in the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y.

Waldorf, whose best finish came as a runner-up in this event a year ago, managed a scrambling, one-under-par 70. Janzen shot 68 on the Westchester Country Club course that has been more than a match for the elite of the PGA Tour.

Each will take a 209 total into the final round in the chase for a $180,000 first prize. That’s four under par for three trips over the 6,779-yard course--short by current standards but armed with hard, fast greens; narrow, tree-lined fairways and deep, difficult rough.

Ian Baker-Finch of Australia and Loren Roberts were the only others under par. Roberts, who matched par 71, and Baker-Finch, who shot 68, were tied at 212.

Tom Kite, who will defend his U.S. Open title next week, entered the day’s play in a tie for the top spot. But he blew to a 75 and was five shots back.

The number of sub-par scores has gone from 13 in the first round, to eight the second day and four on Saturday.

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Walt Zembriski shot a four-under-par 66 to catch first-round leader Dave Stockton with 18 holes remaining in the Southwestern Bell Seniors Classic at Belton, Mo.

Stockton, whose 65 Friday gave him a share of the lead with Kermit Zarley and George Archer, had a scrambling 68.

Zembriski and Stockton were at seven-under-par 133.

Isao Aoki, after a putting lesson from his wife, shot 65 and was a stroke back, tied with 58-year-old Dick Rhyan, who reeled off five consecutive birdies for a 65. Rhyan had a heart attack less than a year ago.