Irwin leads golf

Press, 28 August 1978, Page 6

Irwin leads golf

NZPA-Reuter Pinehurst, North Carolina

Hale Irwin birdied the sixteenth and seventeenth holes yesterday to hold a one stroke lead over Tom Watson through three rounds of the $U5250,000 Hall of Fame golf classic. Irwin, who won this title last year and had a brilliant eight under par 63 on Saturday, turned in a 69 in the third round for an eight under par total of 205. Watson, with a birdie on the final hole, carded a 67 and is at 206. Tom Kite birdied the final three holes and is another shot away at 207,

John Lister, of New Zealand, finished the third round with a total of 216 after hitting a 73 yesterday.

And John O’Leary, a 29-year-old Dubliner, held on bravely to his one shot lead after the third round of the Irish open golf championship at Portmanock. His one under par 71 gave him a total of 211 and left him just ahead of Britain’s Ken Brown and a young West German, Bernhard Langer, with the holder, the former United States Open chain pion, Hubert Green, hovering menacingly on 212. Bob Charles, of New Zealand, shot a par 72 to give him a three round total of 216. He had a 75 on Saturday. ' And at St Paul, Minnesota, Marlene Floyd, birdied the first four holes on her way to a 67 that earned her a one-shot lead in the $U575,000 Patty Berg golf classic. Her 10 under par total of 69, 67—136, gave her a slender lead over Kathy Whitworth and Hollis Stacy, winner of the last two United States women’s opens. Marilyn Smith, of New Zealand, hit a 73 to giv e her a two round total of 143.