Sluman, Gow Go to the Top at B.C.

Jeff Sluman shot a bogey-free, seven-under-par 65 on Saturday to charge past six players for a share of the third-round lead in the B.C. Open at Endicott, N.Y.

Australian Paul Gow had a 66 to join Sluman atop the leaderboard at 16-under 200. The two made their gains thanks to Brett Quigley’s struggles.

Quigley, who began the day with a three-stroke lead at the En-Joie Golf Club, shot an even-par 72. At 15 under, Quigley is one off the pace, along with Jim McGovern, who shot a 68.

Three others, including 1981 B.C. Open champion Jay Haas, are two back at 14 under.

Ty Tryon, the 17-year-old who will be a high school junior in Orlando, Fla., shot his second consecutive 72 for a 209 total. He opened with a 65 for a share of the lead.

This is the second consecutive week that Sluman has had at least a share of the lead going into Sunday. It didn’t help him last weekend in the Greater Milwaukee Open, when he shot a final-round 72 and tied for 10th, five shots behind winner Shigeki Maruyama.

While Brett Quigley was struggling, his uncle, Dana Quigley, shot a six-under 66 to take a four-stroke lead over Jay Sigel after the second round of the SBC Senior Open at Long Grove, Ill.

Quigley, who began the day seven under, made the turn at 12 under and moved to 13 under on the back nine of Kemper Lakes Golf Club. The four-time senior winner has played 139 consecutive tournaments and is eighth on the 2001 money list.

“I knew with my front-nine score it would be hard for someone to catch me,” Quigley said. “I’ve never led by this much. I don’t think I ever had a four-stroke lead in a state open. So I’m new at this.”

After shooting even par Friday, Sigel climbed into contention with a course-record 63, his lowest round since the 1999 Vantage Championship.

Bruce Lietzke, the 13-time PGA Tour winner who turned 50 on Wednesday, followed his opening 74 with a bogey-free 66 to move into 12th place.

Rosie Jones shot her second consecutive five-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead over Nancy Scranton after three rounds of the LPGA Big Apple Classic at New Rochelle, N.Y.

Jones, who has two second-place finishes in this $950,000 tournament--including last year--and a third, birdied the par-five 18th to get to 11-under 202. That was her sixth birdie of the round at the 6,161-yard Wykagyl Country Club course.

“I think it’s my time here but I won’t say it,” Jones said. “I have a good feel for this course. I’m driving it straight and keeping it out of the rough.”

Scranton, who opened with a 64 and still shared the lead after the second round, capped her 70 with a birdie on 18, only her third of the day.