Sutton Shoots a 69, Takes Two-Shot Lead at Houston

Hal Sutton birdied the last two holes to take a two-shot lead over Joey Sindelar on Saturday after three rounds of the Houston Open.

Sutton and Sindelar shared the lead after two rounds.

Sutton, who shot a three-under-par 69, is looking for his first win of the year after two in 1998, and Sindelar is winless on the PGA Tour since 1990.

Swirling winds and fast, dry greens made it a tough day for most of the competitors at the Woodlands. Clarence Rose was an exception.

Rose, who started the third round at even par, had the low round of the event, an eight-under 64 that was two shots off the tournament record and his best round in 14 years. It put him in third place at 208 along with Loren Roberts, Frank Lickliter and Stuart Appleby.

“I didn’t have any goals when I teed off this morning,” said Rose, who has one victory, in 1996, and finished 142nd on the money list last year. He’s entered five events this year and this was his first cut.

“I just wanted to play well,” he said after playing the entire round with the same ball. “I think it had eyes and so I wasn’t going to change it.”

At this tournament last year, David Duval won by making up five shots over the final seven holes. But Duval, who was three shots back heading into Saturday’s round, soared to a 78 and a one-over 217 total.

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Joe Inman and Larry Nelson, who live three miles apart in Atlanta and belong to the same country club, will get to spend some more time together today. As co-leaders of the Bruno’s Memorial Classic, they’ll be paired in the final group for the senior tournament at Hoover, Ala.

Nelson shot a 67, Inman a 68 in the second round of the 54-hole tournament at Greystone Golf Club outside Birmingham. Bob Charles and Mike Hill, two of the older golfers on the tour at 60-plus years old, were a shot back at six-under 138. Charles, 63, had the low round of the day, a 65.

“The only disappointing thing about my round was that I didn’t shoot my age,” he said.

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The LPGA City of Hope Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina was rained our for a second consecutive day. The event has been reduced to 36 holes, with the final round today, weather permitting.