GOLF ROUNDUP : Hobday Is Setting a Hot Pace

South African Simon Hobday, still on a record pace, has a three-shot lead in the U.S. Senior Open at Pinehurst, N.C., which once again was delayed by a storm Saturday and suspended overnight.

Hobday was 13 under par with five holes to play in the third round when darkness halted play on the rain-soaked No. 2 course at the Pinehurst Country Club.

Hobday, who tied the Senior Open 36-hole scoring record of 133, is in sight of the 54-hole Senior Open scoring record of nine-under 204.

“I’m playing better than I know how,” Hobday said. “I don’t even want to talk about it. It might go away.”

Jim Albus, playing in the same threesome with Hobday, was 10 under for the tournament through 13 holes.

Those two and 16 others--including most of the leaders--marked their positions and will finish the third round today, and weather permitting, the final round will be played in the afternoon.

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Greg Kraft, a third-year player who ranks 169th on the money list, shot a four-under-par 68 to grab a one-stroke lead over Jeff Sluman and defending champion Nick Price after three rounds of the Motorola Western Open at Lemont, Ill.

With an 11-under-par 205 total after 54 holes, Kraft enters the final round as the leader for the third time in his brief career.

Price shot even-par 72 over the Dubsdread course at the Cog Hill Golf and Country Club. He is at 206. Sluman turned in a 69, capping his round with birdies on the last two holes.

Three strokes back at 208 were Jim Gallagher, tying Kraft for the day’s best round of 68, Fred Couples with a 69 and Bill Glasson with a 72.

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Alicia Dibos of Peru shot a four-under-par 68 and held the lead in the rain-interrupted second round of the Youngstown-Warren LPGA Classic at Youngstown, Ohio.

Only 65 of the 131 players managed to complete the second round, which was suspended after a four-hour rain delay. Of the early starters who finished the second round, Dibos held a one-shot lead at three-under 141. Barb Bunkowsky matched Dibos’ 68 and was at 142.