It’s Just Like Old Times as Burton Takes Control

A month ago, Brandie Burton pulled out videotapes of her 1993 victory at the du Maurier Classic, trying to recapture the swing that brought her so much success at such a young age.

She was rookie of the year at 19 and had her first major championship two years later. But that’s ancient history on an LPGA Tour that now belongs to Se Ri Pak, Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam.

“I’m one of those 20-something players,” Burton, 26, said Saturday after a six-under-par 66 gave her a three-shot lead heading into today’s final round of the du Maurier at Windsor, Canada. “But I feel like I’m about 50.”

Burton stormed out of the pack with birdies on four of the last six holes and set a 54-hole tournament record of 18-under 198. The previous mark was 200 by Ayako Okamoto in 1987.

Three strokes back are Sorenstam, playing her best in a major since winning her second straight U.S. Women’s Open in 1996, and Meg Mallon, a former LPGA Championship and U.S. Open winner. Each shot 67 for a 201 total.

Pak missed five of her first seven fairways on her way to a one-under 71 that left her 12 strokes off the pace.

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Nick Price righted a shaky round with two birdies on the back nine and Bob Estes came out of the pack with a four-under 67 to share the lead in the FedEx St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn.

Price, who has topped the leader board all three days, shot a 70 to match Estes at 11-under 202 on the TPC at Southwind course. Jeff Sluman (66), Tim Conley (67) and Paul Azinger (69), looking for his first PGA Tour victory since winning the PGA Championship in 1993, were a stroke back.

John Daly, renowned for his tantrums, had another one Saturday. Daly was three under on the front nine before double-bogeying three holes on the back side. He was disqualified after failing to sign his scorecard.

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Gil Morgan continued his assault on the Park Meadows course with a five-under 67 in the second round of the Utah Showdown in Park City.

With a 36-hole total of 133, he holds a three-stroke lead over John Mahaffey, and has never blown a lead entering the final day of competition in his senior career.

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Kellee Booth, Brenda Corrie-Kuehn and Beth Bauer won singles matches to give the U.S. a 5 1/2-3 1/2 lead over Great Britain and Ireland after the first day of the 30th Curtis Cup, for women amateurs.

In the day’s most-watched competition at the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, U.S. Women’s Open playoff loser Jenny Chuasiriporn rallied from four holes down to halve her match with British Amateur champion Rebecca Hudson.

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In Front

Leaders after Saturday’s play (Complete scores, C12):

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du MAURIER CLASSIC--Par 72

Brandie Burton: 68-64-66--198 -18

Annika Sorenstam: 68-66-67--201 -15

Meg Mallon: 65-69-67--201 -15

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ST. JUDE CLASSIC--Par 71

Bob Estes: 68-67-67--202 -11

Nick Price: 65-67-70--202 -11

Jeff Sluman: 70-67-66--203 -10

Tim Conley: 68-68-67--203 -10

Paul Azinger: 65-69-69--203 -10

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UTAH SHOWDOWN--Par 72

Gil Morgan: 66-67--133 -11

John Mahaffey: 70-66--136 -8

Dave Stockton: 70-67--137 -7

Bob Duval: 66-71--137 -7