A Surging Stockton and a Surly Weiskopf

Dave Stockton shot his second 67 in a row to take a seven-stroke lead at the U.S. Senior Open on Saturday at Beachwood, Ohio, but Tom Weiskopf drew much of the media attention.

Weiskopf, in Saturday’s Cleveland Plain Dealer, was quoted as complaining about having to play with U.S. Senior Amateur champion Jim Stahl during the first two rounds.

Weiskopf said his problems with Stahl began on the 11th green of the first round, when Stahl marked his ball with a quarter.

“Ask anyone who has ever played golf,” Weiskopf said. “When you are three feet or less from the hole and near someone’s line, you don’t mark the ball with a quarter. You mark it with a non-reflective penny.”

Weiskopf, who had 75s in the first two rounds to barely make the cut, also said Stahl was “absurd with his speed of play.”

Stahl, who missed the cut by nine shots with two 80s, said, “I’m crushed about this whole thing. I have never been treated like this in my life.”

Stockton started the day with a one-stroke lead over Bob Charles, pushed his advantage to four shots by the time he reached the sixth tee, then almost moved out of sight with birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to finish with a three-round total of 12-under 204.

His five-under-par 67 was the best round of the day.

Charles remains second, one shot ahead of Raymond Floyd, Hale Irwin, Tony Jacklin and Jay Sigel.

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Steve Stricker took a five-stroke lead after three rounds of the Western Open, making seven birdies on the front nine at Lemont, Ill.

Stricker shot a 67 for a 15-under-par, three-day total of 201. He needs a 67 today at Cog Hill’s Dubsdread Course to equal the Western-record low score of 268.

Lee Janzen was alone in second place at 206 after a 71. Jay Don Blake entered the day tied with Stricker at 10-under but shot 73.

Nick Price, the 1993 and ’94 Western Open champion, was 12 strokes behind Stricker, but Price’s main concern was the health of his caddie, Jeff “Squeeky” Medlen, 42, who has been diagnosed with leukemia.

“Golf is secondary right now,” Price said. “I just want Squeeky to get better.”

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At Sylvania, Ohio, Joan Pitcock shot a five-under-par 66 to take the lead of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic after two rounds.

First-round leader Meg Mallon was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

Pitcock was at eight-under 134 and held a three-stroke lead over six players heading into the final round.

Mallon, who was credited with an opening-round 65, was disqualified before the second round because of a U.S. Golf Assn. rule on waiting time with a ball hanging on the lip of the cup.

She violated the 10-second rule and signed for a birdie four on the 17th hole. She actually had a five.

“I think it’s very harsh under the circumstances,” Mallon said.