Hoch Increases His Lead In Sarazen World Open

Scott Hoch turned in a 2-under-par 70 in breezy, cool weather to expand his lead to four shots after three rounds at the Sarazen World Open Championship at Braselton, Ga.

Hoch had a 54-hole total of 14-under 202 on the hilly 6,967-yard The Legends course at Chateau Elan, a resort 50 miles north of Atlanta.

Defending champion Frank Nobilo of New Zealand remained second after a 72.

Hoch, a seven-time winner during his 17 years on the PGA Tour who began the round two shots in front, had that advantage over Nobilo when he suddenly took control at the 213-yard, par-3 12th hole.

Hoch knocked in a 35-foot birdie putt, and Nobilo, who missed the green, made a bogey. It gave Hoch a 4-shot edge over Nobilo, Craig Stadler and Sweden’s Daniel Chopra, who qualified for the event by winning the 1995 Republic of China Open.

Both Stadler and Chopra fell back with 70s. Stadler has a 207. Chopra stands at 209.

Dave Eichelberger and Larry Gilbert each shot even-par 70s to share the lead at 4-under-par 136 after the second round of the windswept Emerald Coast Classic at Milton, Fla.

Gilbert and Eichelberger were one stroke ahead of Jay Sigel and Dave Stockton.

The wind and rain didn’t bother Maggie Will at the Japan Queens Cup where she shot a 1-under-par 71 to earn a share of the second-round lead at the LPGA Tour’s final event of the year at Azuma, Japan.

Will is tied at 4-under 140 with Mayumi Hirase, who shot her second straight 70.

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