Strike Against Abc Kept Golf Off The Air

The Tour Championship in Houston, knocked off the air by a strike against ABC-TV, ended a tumultuous Saturday with Davis Love III, Brad Faxon, David Duval and Bill Glasson tied for the lead.

Eleven players in the field of the top-30 money winners were within four strokes going into today’s final round and well within striking distance for the $720,000 first prize in the season-ending event.

TV viewers were denied seeing the third round because of a one-day strike against ABC to protest disciplinary action taken by the company against a union shop steward.

The National Association of Broadcast and Technical Employees said the worker, Mark Johnson, was suspended for two weeks because he drew a cartoon depicting Disney head Michael Eisner as Scrooge McDuck.

ABC said Johnson was suspended because he lied during a company investigation of the incident. Disney is the parent company of ABC.

Today’s final round will be televised, ABC and the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians said.

Jim Colbert shot his second straight 6-under-par 65 to take a three-stroke lead in the Ralphs Senior Classic in Los Angeles.

Colbert had six birdies in a bogey-free round on the Wilshire Country Club course.

Defending champion Gil Morgan was second after a 66. Hale Irwin, seeking a record 10th victory of the year, followed his course-record 63 with a 72.