GOLF ROUNDUP : Irwin Shoots a 65, Leads Heritage by Two

Hale Irwin broke free from a back-nine battle with playing partner Russ Cochran and grabbed a two-stroke lead at the Heritage Classic on Saturday at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Irwin, the Heritage winner in 1971 and 1973, made six birdies for a 65 and a record-setting 198 total through three rounds. His 15-under is just one behind the four-day, 72-hole record of 16-under Payne Stewart set in winning this event in 1989.

Cochran, tied for the lead until he pushed his tee shot into the hazard behind the 17th hole, notched seven birdies and two bogeys for a 66-200. He was tied with Greg Norman, who shot a 67.

David Frost and Bob Estes both survived erratic rounds and were tied at 203. Frost ended with a 72, 11 shots more than his course record 61 he shot Friday. Estes, the first-round co-leader, lost three shots to par on his first four holes, but went six-under the rest of the way.

After Irwin and Cochran reached the turn at 12-under, it became more like match play. Twice, on No. 11 and No. 13, Cochran rolled in birdie putts to move in front by one. Both times, Irwin birdied the following hole.

Irwin pulled in front on the windswept 17th hole, a testy par-three that opens to the ocean. Cochran flew a four-iron shot into a hazard and, after a nifty bump-and-run chip to 10 feet, missed the putt to make bogey. Irwin made a 30-foot birdie putt.

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Liselotte Neumann of Sweden shot a five-under-par 67 and took a one-shot lead over Judy Dickinson in the unfinished second round of the LPGA Atlanta Women’s Championship at Stockbridge, Ga.

Rain interrupted Friday’s opening round, forcing 84 of the 144 players in the field to complete play Saturday morning. Forty-two players were still on the course when second-round play was suspended by darkness Saturday evening, and they will finish their rounds today. Play will continue into Monday, if necessary, to complete the 54-hole event.