Crenshaw, Torrance share lead

Crenshaw, Torrance share lead in Freeport-McMoran Open meet

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (UPI): Ben Crenshaw birdied four holes in a five-hole stretch Saturday to move into a tie with Scotland's Sam Torrance after three rounds of the US$1.2 million Freeport-McMoran Championship.

Torrance and Crenshaw finished the day at 11-under 205 at the English Turn Golf and Country Club - two shots ahead of Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain.

Crenshaw, who was tied with Olazabal for second place entering the round, shot a 4-under-par 68. From the 13th through 17th holes, Crenshaw made four birdies to overtake Torrance, who shot a 67.

Torrance, who earned his second invitation ever to the Masters this year, arrived in the United States early to prepare for next week's first maor championship of the year and now has a chance to win his initial American event.

It has been just over a year since Crenshaw posted his last win.

Ted Tryba and Kenny Perry were four shots off the pace, tied for fourth place. Tryba shot a 5-under 67 Saturday and Perry a 68. Neither is eligible for the Masters, but would earn an invitation with a sin Sunday.

Dennis Paulson, who shot a course-record 10-under 62 Friday to take the lead, fired a 75 Saturday and was six shots off the lead.

Lyon Open

In Lyon, France, Europe's rookie of the year, Scot Gary Orr, took over the lead in the d335,000 Lyon Open as he broke the Angliers course record at Villette d'Anthon with a 6-under-par 66 Saturday.

This took him to 9-under-par 135 and a 1-shot lead over Swede Gabriel Hjertstedt, who shot 68 for 136.

Two shared third place on 137, with Stephen Ames of Trinidad and Tobago shooting 67 and Australia's Wayne Riley posting 68. Englishman Gordon J Brand took up 5th place on 139 hitting a 69.

The 1st-round leader Phillip Price, who had led five rounds in succession on the European Tour, following on from his Portuguese Open victory, slipped back into the pack on 143 after a 76 to follow his 67 to set the original record.

Worsening weather in the afternoon after a sunny morning meant that no-one caught the morning leaders.

Orr overtook the Welshman when he collected three birdies in succession from his 3rd hole and added another on his 7th.

The 26-year-old Scot faltered by bogeying the 17th, his eighth, but soon forged a sizeable lead when he picked up another four birdies in six holes.

He denied himself a bigger lead, though, by bogeying his last hole.

Orr had the best of the weather conditions for a second day, earning his lead on a sunny morning after his 69 in the first round when he avoided the morning winds. Leading scores New Orleans (players U.S. unless noted):

205 - Sam Torrance (GB) 67 71 67, Ben Crenshaw 69 68 68 207 - Jose Maria Olazabal (Spa) 63 74 70 208 - Jim Furyk 70 72 66 209 - Ted Tryba 72 70 67, Kenny Perry 69 72 68 210 - Ed Dougherty 74 70 66, Peter Jordan 72 71 67, John Morse

72 71 67, Greg Twiggs 76 66 68, Kelly Gibson 72 69 69,

Joey Sindelar 72 69 69, Steve Brodie 71 67 72, Bobby

Clampett 70 68 72 211 - Donnie Hammond 73 70 68, Duffy Waldorf 71 72 68, Mike

Springer 73 69 69, Lanny Wadkins 71 70 70, Dennis Paulson

74 62 75 212 - Trevor Dodds (Nam) 75 68 69 213 - Nick Faldo (GB) 72 71 70, Ian Baker-Finch (Aus) 71 70 72,

Naomichi (Joe) Ozaki (Jap 71 68 74 214 - Ernie Els (SAf) 69 76 69 215 - Jesper Parnevik (Swe) 73 69 73 217 - David Frost (SAf) 74 72 71 223 - Brad King (Aus) 74 72 77

Lyon Open (GB unless stated):

135 - Gary Orr 69-66 136 - Gabriel Hjertstedt (Swe) 68-68 137 - Wayne Riley (Aus) 69-68, Stephen Ames (Tri) 70-67 139 - Gordon J. Brand 70-69 140 - Brian Marchbank 70-70, Pedro Linhart (Spa) 72-68, Miles

Tunnicliff 72-68, Jim Payne 71-69 141 - Andrew Sherborne 69-72, Jeremy Robinson 72-69, Russell

Claydon 74-67 142 - Raymond Russell 71-71, Marc Farry (Fra) 69-73, Peter

Mitchell 73-69, Jean-Francois Remesy (Fra) 71-71, Gordon

Brand jnr 73-69 143 - Ricky Willison 71-72, Fabrice Honnorat de Malliard (Fra)

73-70, Ronan Rafferty (NIre) 73-70, Keith Waters 71-72,

Torsten Giedeon (Ger) 71-72, David Gilford 70-73, Philip

Price 67-76, Robin Mann 73-70, Mark Davis 76-67, Philip

Walton (Ire) 72-71, Santiago Luna (Spa) 72-71