Two Share Lead; Tiger Only Three Shots Back

L.A. Times Archives

Aug. 9, 1998 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Billy Mayfair and Steve Stricker moved past struggling Brandel Chamblee and took a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich., on Saturday.

Mayfair, seeking his second PGA Tour win of the season, shot a seven-under-par 65 while Stricker, winless since 1996, shot a 68 to tie at 12-under 204 at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.

Chamblee, a journeyman seeking his first tour win, shot a 72 to fall into a tie with defending champion Vijay Singh (67) and Phil Blackmar (70).

Tiger Woods was only three strokes back after a solid back nine.

A day of sun and wind made play more difficult for some on the 7,105-yard course that had been softened by two nights of heavy rain. But it made things just about right for Woods as he tunes up for the PGA Championship this week at Redmond, Wash.

Woods, with a 69, moved into a tie for third with a host of players at 207.

“I’m right there,” said Woods, who finished third at the British Open. “It’s not a bad spot to be in. I’m pleased with some of the improvements I’ve made.”

Mayfair, who began the day at five under, did just about everything right on the front side, where he shot a 31. He birdied Nos. 1 and 3, spun in a 165-yard seven-iron for an eagle on the par-four fourth, then birdied Nos. 6 and 7 to reach 11 under. He bogeyed No. 8, but birdies on the last two holes got him to 12 under.

Stricker, starting at eight under, made up one stroke on the front side and birdied Nos. 12 and 13 to reach 11 under. Another birdie on the par-five 16th got him to 12 under. His 20-foot birdie putt at No. 18 for the outright lead broke right at the last moment and slid three inches below the hole.

Defending champion Hale Irwin and senior rookie Tom Jenkins shot seven-under 65s to tie the tournament record and share the lead halfway through the rain-shortened Coldwell Banker Burnet Senior Classic at Coon Rapids, Minn.

Thirteen others were within three shots of the lead going into today’s final round of the 36-hole event.

Isao Aoki, who had five birdies in a 31 on the back nine, was at 66, while Vicente Fernandez and Jay Sigel had 67s. Ten players shot 68s.

The tournament was shortened to 36 holes after lightning forced suspension of the first round Friday while 17 threesomes had not completed nine holes. The second round was erased because Senior PGA Tour rules stipulate that all players must have at least nine holes completed for any scores to count.

Meg Mallon had nine one-putts and shot a five-under 67 in the second round of the Star Bank LPGA Classic at Beavercreek, Ohio, to take a one-stroke lead.

Mallon, from Ramona, Calif., had a 13-under 131 total after two trips around the 6,331-yard Country Club of the North near Dayton.

Donna Andrews shot a 65 to move into second place, and first-round leader Dottie Pepper and Beth Daniel were tied for third, another stroke back.

Leigh Anne Hardin of Martinsville, Ind., and Brittany Straza of Fort Myers, Fla., won semifinal matches in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Hardin, 16, the Indiana high school champion and also a member of two state championship basketball teams, beat Kristin Thompson of Napa, Calif., 6 and 5. Straza, 17, defeated Jessica Reese of Santa Rosa, Calif., 5 and 3.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

In Front

Results after Saturday’s play (Complete scores, C14):

BUICK OPEN--Par 72

Billy Mayfair: 70-69-65--204 -12

Steve Stricker: 69-67-68--204 -12

Vijay Singh: 66-70-69--205 -11

Phil Blackmar: 67-68-70--205 -11

Brandel Chamblee: 65-68-72--205 -11

BURNET SENIOR CLASSIC--Par 72

Hale Irwin: 33-32--65 -7

Tom Jenkins: 32-33--65 -7