GOLF ROUNDUP : Norman, Price Have Piece of Four-Way Tie

Greg Norman and Nick Price each mounted a comeback and secured a place in a four-way tie for the lead Saturday after three rounds of the World Series of Golf at Akron, Ohio.

Price and Norman, both involved in a struggle for player-of-the-year honors, were tied at three-under-par 207 with Jim Gallagher and David Edwards.

Four others were a stroke back, putting eight players within a shot of the lead going into today’s final round of the chase for a $360,000 first prize.

Norman had a third consecutive 69 despite a triple-bogey seven on the fourth hole that left him seven strokes off the pace.

“I wasn’t going to let one backswing ruin my whole day,” the British Open champion said. “I knew the golf course was going to get the other guys somewhere along the way.”

And the Firestone Country Club course, with sun-baked fairways and greens that Norman complained were “inconsistent,” did, indeed, get the other guys.

Price, for example, once had a three-shot lead. But he lost five shots to par over a five-hole stretch and had to rally for a 71 that was capped by a 15-foot putt for a birdie.

Edwards, who led or shared the lead through the first 36 holes, also had a three-shot lead but bogeyed three of the last five holes and shot 72.

Gallagher played the back in 32 and gained his place in the leading foursome with a 66.

Defending champion Craig Stadler, Australian Steve Elkington and South Africans Fulton Allem and David Frost were at 208.

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Betsy King shot a one-under 71 for a one-stroke lead over Beth Daniel and Brandie Burton after 54 holes of the LPGA’s duMaurier Classic at London, Canada.

King thus ensured that for the sixth time this season she will carry a lead or a share of the lead into the final round of a tournament. However, she has yet to win a tournament.

“It’s like being a point up in a basketball game with a quarter to go,” King said. “It’s not much of a lead.”

King completed three rounds over the 6,331-yard London Hunt and Country Club course in 10-under 206 in staving off charges by Daniel and Burton. Burton had the day’s best round, a 66, and Daniel shot 68.

Vicki Fergon (68), Dottie Mochrie (71) and Kathy Guadagnino (70) were two strokes off the pace at 208. Dana Lofland-Dormann was at 209 after a 73.

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Senior tour veteran Bob Charles shot a five-under-par 67 and DeWitt Weaver had a 68, leaving them tied for the lead after two rounds of the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Birmingham, Ala.

They are at nine-under 135 with one round to play at the Greystone Golf Club course. Lee Trevino, Bob Murphy and Walter Morgan are one shot back.