GOLF ROUNDUP : Thompson Uses Eagle to Take Three-Shot Lead

Rocky Thompson sank a nine-foot eagle putt on the 16th hole Saturday in building a three-stroke lead over two-time defending champion Jim Dent after two rounds of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Senior Classic.

Thompson, in his third season on the over-50 tour and still seeking his first victory, survived an erratic round interrupted twice by lightning, but saw his four-stroke opening-round lead shaved by one.

Thompson built a four-stroke lead in Friday’s opening round with a course-record 62 and shot 68 on Saturday. He is 14-under-par 130 with 18 holes to play today.

Four of Thompson’s first five drives sprayed off the fairway--the same holes where he had five consecutive birdies Friday.

The long-hitting Dent subdued the Lafayette Country Club’s par-five holes, including an eagle on No. 8, to go to 11 under. He began the day five strokes behind Thompson and shot a 66.

J.C. Snead and Mike Hill are at 134 with Dudley Wysong and Babe Hiskey is at 135.

Barb Mucha and Jody Anschutz shot three-under-par 69s in 95-degree heat to share the second-round lead in the LPGA’s $400,000 Lady Keystone Open at Hershey, Pa.

Mucha, who has won once in five years on the tour, and Anschutz, who hasn’t won since 1987, are at seven-under 137 after two rounds over the 6,348-yard West Course of the Hershey Country Club.

One stroke back is Juli Inkster, who closed a round of 68 with a bogey on the last hole, and Mitzi Edge, who rode a string of seven consecutive birdies to a 65. The feat had been accomplished only twice before in an LPGA event.