Golf Roundup : Hatalsky, Winless Since ‘83, Leads by 2

Morris Hatalsky, bidding for his first victory since 1983, shot a 3-under-par 68 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over three players after three rounds of the $800,000 Kemper Open at Potomac, Md.

Hatalsky, who missed the cut in each of his last three tournaments, finished with an 11-under-par 202 through 54 holes at the Tournament Players Club at Avenel. After shooting four birdies on the front nine, the 13-year veteran bogeyed No. 10 and then closed with eight straight pars.

Craig Stadler, who shot a course-record 64, Mike Reid (67) and John Mahaffey (68) comprised the group of players two strokes off the pace.

Defending champion Tom Kite, second-round leader Jim Hallet and Mark Brooks were at 205. Tommy Armour III, Bill Glasson and Jay Haas were at 206.

Searching for his first victory on the tour since 1984, Stadler had seven birdies, including three in a row on Nos. 13 through 15.

After opening the tournament with consecutive 70s, the two-time Kemper champion said improved putting and a bit of luck contributed to the record-tying effort that kept him in contention for the $144,000 top prize.

“I got some good bounces, and everything kind of went right,” Stadler said. “I had a lot of birdie putts and made most of them.”

Despite the impressive round, Stadler said he was hardly satisfied with his position on the leader board.

“Considering the amount of golf tournaments I’ve won over the last four years, I’d love to be leading by 10 strokes,” he said.

Nancy Lopez started with a par for the first time in three days and birdied three of the next five holes on the way to a 3-under-par 69, maintaining a one-stroke lead over Laura Davies after three rounds of the LPGA Jamie Farr tournament at Toledo, Ohio.

Lopez, going for her fourth victory of the year and the 40th of her career, was at 9-under 207 entering today’s final 18 holes.

Davies, a long-driving 24-year-old from England, was at 208 after matching Lopez’s 69. Davies started the day one shot behind Lopez, dropped four shots back midway through the round before rallying for three birdies on the back nine.

Betsy King had the best round among the leaders, a 4-under-par 68 that moved her into third place at 209, two strokes behind Lopez.

Bob Charles, in quest of his third consecutive seniors tour victory, shot a second straight 68 to take a two-stroke lead into today’s final round of the Reunion Pro-Am at Dallas.

Charles played a bogey-free round in a blustery wind over the Bent Tree Country Club course to post a 36-hole total of 8-under 136.

Homero Blancas, Larry Mowry, Harold Henning, Bobby Nichols and Charles Coody all were tied for second at 138.

U.S. Masters champion Sandy Lyle shot a 4-under-par 68 to take a four-stroke lead over U.S. Open champion Nick Faldo entering the final round of the $500,000 Dunhill British Masters at Milton Keynes, England.

Lyle was at 14-under 202 after 54 holes on the 6,913-yard Woburn course. Faldo shot the day’s best round, a bogey-free 67. Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain was two shots behind Faldo at 208.