Golf Roundup : Zinger of a Round Puts Azinger Ahead

It was right out of Paul Azinger’s wildest dream.

Azinger, playing his finest round as a pro, shot an eight-under-par 63 Saturday to take a three-shot lead in the third round of the $700,000 Greater Hartford Open golf tournament at Cromwell, Conn.

“This was the best I’ve ever hit the ball in my life,” Azinger said. “Every drive was where I aimed; every iron was where I aimed. I never had a par putt that was longer than 10 inches.

“I shot a 62 once as an amateur, but this is my best as a pro.” Azinger, second in PGA Tour earnings with $450,462, takes a three-round total of 16-under-par 197 into today’s final round in search of his third victory of the year.

First-day leader Wayne Levi was second at 200 after shooting a 68. Bernhard Langer, the leader after two rounds, slumped to a 72 and was tied at 202 with Gene Sauers, who had a 68.

Azinger, 27, who has had to qualify for the tour three times, won his first PGA tournaments this year at Phoenix and Las Vegas.

He birdied six of his first 11 holes, then added birdies at the 17th and 18th. He didn’t have a bogey.

After a morning rain delay, Japanese golfer Aki Ohmachi was disqualified when he hit his approach shot to the 10th green before the official siren sounded for play to continue.

Deb Richard shot a one-over-par 73 but held a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the Rochester International at Pittsford, N.Y.

Richard, who has not won in her two seasons on the LPGA Tour, had a three-stroke lead until bogeying her final two holes and finishing with a total of eight-under-par 208.

Lori Garbacz had a 71 and was in second place at 209, and Laurie Rinker (68) and Patty Sheehan (69) were tied for third at 210. .

Richard had to get up early and play the final hole of her second round, which was suspended because of darkness Friday.

Billy Casper shot a second-straight three-under-par 68 and took a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the $250,000 PGA Seniors event at Grand Rapids, Mich.

Casper took control with birdie putts on the 11th, 15th and 17th holes and had a 136 total.

Tommy Aaron, who shot a 65 Friday, stumbled to a 73 for a total of 138, tying for second with Dave Hill, who had consecutive 69s.

Howie Johnson won the $8,000 first prize in the Super Seniors competition. He had a second-round 68 for a 142 total, beating Roberto de Vicenzo by one stroke.

Peter Senior won the $320,000 Monte Carlo Open, beating fellow Australian Roger Davis by one stroke with a five-foot birdie putt on the final hole. Senior shot a three-under-par 66 for a 260 total and earned $53,000. Davis finished the round with a 62.