GOLF ROUNDUP : Singh on Familiar Ground With Lead at Westchester

Vijay Singh is the defending champion at the Buick Classic in his own mind and by his own calendar.

He won in 1993 as a PGA Tour rookie, but skipped the event in 1994 because he had a bad back.

On Saturday, he shot a four-under-par 67 for a seven-under 206 total for 54 holes and a one-shot lead going into today’s final round at the Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.

“I really feel as if I am the defender,” Singh said after missing only one green and two fairways in carding five birdies and a bogey. “Knowing the course and having won it raises my confidence. Today, I managed myself very well and it was because of playing here in ’93.”

Bobby Wadkins was in second at six-under 207. Nick Faldo had a 68 to share third at 208 with Bruce Fleischer, who had a 69.

*

J.C. Snead struggled with his putter, but so did everyone else and his two-over-par 72 kept him one shot ahead of the field in the senior tour’s Bell Atlantic Classic at Malvern, Pa.

Snead missed four short par putts and four others for birdie, but he caught a break because only six golfers broke par.

“Amazing isn’t it? Absolutely amazing,” he said of holding the lead. “I was lucky to shoot a 72. There’s no excuse. I’ve got to make some putts. I made two six-footers and that was it. When you just keep missing all your confidence keeps going lower.”

Dave Stockton and Jim Colbert--who aced the 191-yard, par-three seventh hole with a seven-iron--shot 71s to remain one shot behind at 139.

“That’ll look good in the newspapers,” Colbert said of his club selection on the hole. “Just don’t tell them that it was downhill and downwind and they’ll say, ‘Damn, those seniors can hit the ball.’ ”

*

Juli Inkster shot a four-under-par 68 for a 36-hole total of 137 and a three-shot lead in the Star Bank LPGA Classic at Dayton, Ohio, where stiff winds sent scores soaring.

Pat Hurst shot her second 70 to hold second place.

First-round leader Tracy Hanson struggled to a 74 and is four shots behind. Danielle Ammaccapane, one stroke back after the first round, also shot 74.