| Grand
Blanc, Michigan, 8th August, 1998 -
Experience paved the way today as Billy Mayfair and Steve Stricker moved past
struggling Brandel Chamblee and into the lead after three rounds of the Buick
Open. Mayfair,
seeking his second PGA Tour win of the season, shot a 7-under-par 65 while Stricker,
winless since two triumphs in 1996, shot a 68 to tie at 12-under 204 at Warwick
Hills Golf & Country Club. Chamblee,
a journeyman seeking his first tour win, shot a 72 to fall into a tie with defending
champion Vijay Singh (67) and Phil Blackmar (70) at 205. Lurking
only three strokes off the lead was Tiger Woods, who finally found his game on
the back nine. A
day of sun and wind made play more difficult for some on the 7,105-yard course
which had been softened by two nights of heavy rain. But it made things just about
right for the long-hitting Woods who is tuning up for the PGA Championship next
week in Redmond, Wash. Woods,
with a 69, moved into a tie for third with a host of players at 207. "I'm
right there," said Woods, who finished third at the British Open. "It's
not a bad spot to be in. I'm pleased with some of the improvements I've made."
Mayfair, who
began the day at five under, did just about everything right on the front side.
He birdied Nos. 1 and 3, spun in a 165-yard 7-iron for eagle on the par-4 4th,
then birdied Nos. 6 and 7 to reach 11 under. Mayfair
bogeyed No. 8 and turned in 31. Birdies on the last two holes got him to 12 under.
"Finishing
birdie-birdie was a great way to finish," Mayfair said. "Especially
since I started so hot, then melted around in the middle." Stricker,
starting at eight under, made up one stroke on the front side and birdied Nos.
12 and 13 to reach 11 under. Another birdie on the par-5 16th got him to 12 under.
Stricker's 20-foot
birdie putt at No. 18 for the outright lead broke right at the last moment and
slid three inches below the hole. "I
came here feeling good about my game," Stricker said. "It feels good
to be playing well and headed in the right direction." Chamblee,
who has played the PGA Tour full time for eight years and parts of three other
campaigns, started with a one-stroke lead. He
logged nine straight pars on the front side, then birdies at Nos. 10 and 12 got
him to 13 under before a pulled 5-iron led to a bogey at the par-5 13th. Despite
the pressure, Chamblee kept himself together the rest of the round, time after
time scrambling out of potential trouble. When
he drove into deep rough at No. 15, he still managed to reach the green in regulation.
The problem was that Chamblee wasn't cashing in. He missed a very makeable birdie
putt at the par-3 17th. His
luck ran out when his drive on the 18th landed in some muddy, matted thatch, leaving
him 205 yards from the pin. Chamblee stroked a 5-iron to the front edge of the
green, but three-putted to fall out of his share of the lead. "I'm
playing good," Chamblee said. "I just didn't make any putts." Singh
angrily slammed his club into the soft ground after his approach at 18 found a
greenside bunker. He pulled his 5-foot putt to save par left of the cup. DIVOTS:
Chris DiMarco used a 6-iron to ace the 184-yard 17th. The hole-in-one was nice,
but not nearly so nice as the Buick LeSabre that went with it. ... The day's major
move was by Bradley Hughes, who shot a 65 for 207. Hughes started the round tied
for 58th and finished it tied with Woods and several others for sixth. ... Woody
Austin carded his third straight round of 69 ... The Buick Open has crowned a
first-time winner in 10 of the last 23 tournaments. | 
