Waldorf Opens 1-Shot Lead

Duffy Waldorf is picking up where he left off last year in the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y.

The defending champion shot a three-under-par 68 in hot and windy weather Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Ernie Els and four others after the third round.

“I feel I’m just part of the pack with that many guys so close,” said Waldorf, who beat Dennis Paulson in a playoff last year. “I can’t go in thinking I have a lead to protect. I imagine it will be quite a shootout.”

Waldorf, coming off a 72 on Friday in the difficult afternoon conditions, had a bogey-free round for a seven-under 206 total on the demanding Westchester Country Club course.

“I think 68 was a great score,” he said. “I played solid, and didn’t get into too much trouble. It was a tough day to play.”

He made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 5, reached six under with a four-foot putt on No. 9, and two-putted from 20 feet for birdie on No. 10 after driving the green on the 314-yard hole.

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Tom Kite battled through heavy winds, birdied four of the last five holes and took a one-stroke lead in the SBC Senior Open at Long Grove, Ill.

Kite, whose four-under 68 tied for the second-best round of the day, was at five-under 139, one stroke ahead of Graham Marsh.

Marsh is alone at four under while John Bland, Bruce Fleisher and Bruce Summerhays head into today’s final round at Kemper Lakes Golf Club tied at three under.

Kite, who has won once this year on the senior tour, bogeyed the 13th hole, but came back with consecutive birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 16 to jump into the lead.

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Dale Eggeling, drawing on valuable childhood lessons playing golf in swirling winds, shot an even-par 72 and opened up a two-stroke lead in the Rochester International at Rochester, N.Y.

“I learned how to hit a low ball, keep it out of the wind,” Eggeling, a 25-year LPGA veteran, said of her golf education growing up in Statesboro, Ga. “I never really even thought about it, but having learned those shots is an advantage.”

Meg Mallon, an 11-time tour winner, also shot a third-round 72 to claim second place at three under, two ahead of Cindy Figg-Currier.