When It Gets Tough, Janzen Plays Better

Lee Janzen proved again he plays his best when conditions are the toughest with a 69 Saturday on the firm and fast Stadium Course at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the $4-million Players Championship.

Janzen, whose one-stroke victory in 1995 was the only winning margin in the tournament fewer than four strokes since 1991, was at 10-under-par 206, with Glen Day at 209 and British Open champion Justin Leonard at 211.

The 69 by Janzen was especially impressive on a day in which no one shot below 68 and there were only six rounds in the 60s.

“The other guys will have to shoot at the pins and that makes it tougher,” Janzen said. “I can’t do anything to let them catch up. As long as I make pars that will help me.”

Janzen stretched his lead when he played the last 10 holes three under par, managing not to bogey while making birdie putts on Nos. 9, 14 and 16.

“It’s not as much of a lead if the course were soft,” Day said, implying that Janzen could stumble today. “A three-shot lead here. . . you never know what’s going to happen.”

Even Janzen seemed to agree.

“Disaster is waiting on every hole,” he said.

Tom Lehman, Phil Mickelson, Mark Calcavecchia and Scott Hoch were at 212--six strokes back--with Nick Price, Ernie Els, Fred Couples, Billy Mayfair and Lee Westwood among those at 213.

John Daly, who got a coin at an alcoholics’ support group before the round marking one year of sobriety, made two early bogeys in a round of 76 and is at 217, 11 strokes behind.

Tiger Woods, who said anyone surviving the cut was still in contention, didn’t live up to his words. He bogeyed his first hole and shot an erratic 73 to finish at 218.

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Bob Dickson shot a five-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Southwestern Bell Dominion PGA Senior Tour tournament at San Antonio.

Dickson, who tied for second at the 1996 Dominion event, had seven birdies for a two-day total of seven-under 137.

“The last two days I putted well,” said Dickson, ranked No. 41 on the seniors’ money list this year. “I played well today even with a bogey on the last hole. I like this course. I feel comfortable with the layout.”

Dickson, who started the day at two under, was tied with San Antonio teaching pro Jim Barker for the lead at seven under when he birdied the par-four, 436-yard 16th hole.

Dickson went to eight under by hitting a five-iron and then sinking an 18-foot putt at the 17th hole. His second bogey came on the par-five, 545-yard 18th hole when he missed an eight-foot putt.

Barker, who shot a two-under 70 for a six-under 138, had five birdies and three bogeys in the round.

In a three-way tie for second place with Barker are Dave Stockton, who shot a 67, and Lee Trevino, who shot a 69.

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John Wilson shot a five-under 67 for an 11-under 205 and a five-stroke lead after 54 holes of the $300,000 Nike Tour Louisiana Open at Broussard.

The five-stroke lead is the largest on the Nike Tour this year. Wilson, looking for his first Nike Tour victory, is five shots ahead of Deane Pappas, who shot a six-under 66.