Murphy Makes His Move : Senior golf: He shoots a 67 to catch Stockton. Nicklaus is three behind.

The Bear went on the prowl Saturday at La Costa, but it was Bob Murphy who finally caught Dave Stockton.

Murphy, who at one time suffered so from arthritis that he couldn’t grip a club, shot a five-under-par 67 for a 54-hole total of 208 in the senior portion of the $1.5-million Mercedes Championships.

Stockton, after threatening to make it a runaway, made a double bogey on the 15th and finished with a 69 to drop into a share of the lead at eight under.

Jack Nicklaus birdied the first two holes, but he was erratic thereafter and finished with a second consecutive 69 to trail the leaders by three shots at 211.

Beginning with the eighth hole, Nicklaus had a streak in which he didn’t have a par for eight holes, carding five birdies and three bogeys.

Murphy tied the course record for seniors with his 67.

He’s thankful merely to be playing golf. A year ago his arthritis was so bad he feared he would never play as a senior. The drug Methotrexate has been a savior. Murphy has been free of pain since April, played well enough to be rookie of the year and is in position to open the new season with a victory.

Stockton, after a first-round 67, was a victim of poor lies in bunkers in the second and third rounds.

He has left two shots buried under lips in sand traps and lost four shots to par.

For 12 holes Saturday, he was almost flawless. Birdie putts of eight, 12 and 13 feet helped him go from five to 10 under par. But an impossible shot out of a trap on 16 and one of his few misses on a short putt gave him a double bogey.

Nicklaus gives himself a shot at winning the senior division.

“I had seven birdies, I’m driving the ball well and I’m happy with the way I’m playing,” Nicklaus said. “After working on my driving for seven or eight months, I’m happy with the graphite shaft. Surprisingly, it’s called ‘The Bear.’ ”

The big puzzle everyone is trying to figure out is why the seniors are keeping pace with the regular tour players.

“I think the seniors are playing about as expected,” Nicklaus said. “The regulars are not. I don’t know why. I’m not going to worry about it. (Today), if I’m leading by two shots going to the last hole and I need a birdie for the best score, I’m going to make sure I win my tournament.”

The seniors believe they have finally gained some respect this week. Now they would like it to show up in the prize money.

The regular winner will get $180,000, the senior winner $100,000.

“If I post the best score (today),” Stockton said with a laugh, “I’ll just collect $280,000 and two Mercedes. Just kidding.

“But I do hope they don’t hold separate tournaments. I like it here, and I think it’s great to have the two groups. I do think we’ve earned respect. That and more money is all we ask.

“But what’s likely to happen is that one of the juniors will break out with a rash of birdies. All I want to do is win the seniors and make sure I get invited back here.”