Lehman Looks Set For British Open

Preparing to defend his British Open title, Tom Lehman took a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Gulfstream World Invitational Friday in Loch Lomond, Scotland.

Lehman shot a 4-under-par 67 while crawling behind a slow field and shrugging off a pesky Swede.

Leading by one shot and with his ball in deep rough after a wayward tee shot, it looked like Lehman would go into the final 18 holes tied with unheralded Pierre Fulke, who had made only two cuts in 11 tournaments this season.

Especially after he could only slash the ball 120 yards out of the thick grass onto the smooth fairway.

But his third shot from 115 yards put his ball three feet from the pin and he made par while Fulke bogeyed. After rounds of 65-66-67, Lehman had a 15-under total of 198.

“It was a great day for golf,” said Lehman, who defends his Open title next week 50 miles down the road at Troon.

“Trouble was, it was like a snail’s pace out there. Our officials would not let it be this slow or somebody would have had some fines slapped on them,” said the American, whose round lasted more than 5 hours.

Fulke shot a 66 for 200 and former U.S. Open champion Steve Jones was third at 202 after a 68 that included only one bogey, at the 18th. U.S. Open titlist Ernie Els was fourth at 204 after a 65.

Senior Players Championship

Jack Nicklaus, showing he might indeed be ready for next week’s British Open, shot a 5-under-par 67 in the second round and trailed Larry Gilbert by a stroke in the Senior Players Championship in Dearborn, Mich.

Gilbert shot 68 for 135 and Nicklaus was at 136. John Jacobs was another stroke back on the strength of a 66.

There were several at 138, including defending champion Raymond Floyd and two-time winner Dave Stockton. Floyd fired a second-round 68, Stockton shot 70.

Senior tour rookie Dana Quigley, who shared the first-round lead with Gilbert, followed his opening 67 with 75 and was well off the pace.

But all eyes were on Nicklaus, seeking his first victory since the Tradition in 1996. He got off to a rocky start, making bogey on the first two holes. But he got back into it with birdies on Nos. 3 and 6.

Quad City Classic

In 1987, Keith Fergus gave up competitive golf. Seven years later, at age 40, he resumed his career. Now he’s leading the Quad City Classic in Coal Valley, Ill., after two rounds in a bid for his first PGA Tour victory in 14 years.

Fergus shot a 6-under-par 64 to go 9-under for the tournament. He has a one-stroke lead over Ed Dougherty and Robert Gamez. Russ Cochran, David Toms and Sean McCarty were another shot back.

“I played on tour and had some success, winning three times, but I wasn’t enjoying it any more. I wanted to see my kids grow up,” said Fergus, who coached the University of Houston golf team during his sabbatical.

“A few years ago, I felt I wanted to play again - just to see if I could do it. And my kids are teenagers now; they don’t want to be around me. So I said, ‘To heck with this, the clock is ticking.’ This is what I was meant to do.”

Fergus, who had four birdies and an eagle in his bogey-free round at Oakwood Country Club, said coaching at Houston helped his game because he had to constantly give his players positive reinforcement.

“I’ve mellowed,” he said. “I’m not quite as hard on myself. This game is hard enough without belittling yourself.”