Co-Leader Blackmar Shows He’s Not Done

Phil Blackmar hopes his tough times are over.

“That’s been a roller coaster ride,” the 6-foot-7 former University of Texas standout said after a bogey-free, five-under-par 67 gave gave him a share of the third-round lead in the Houston Open with Kevin Sutherland.

“I can’t remember which years are which,” Blackmar said. “I couldn’t break an egg. I couldn’t play at all. I think it was ’94. I made three or four cuts for the entire year and I thought I was pretty much done.”

Blackmar hasn’t won a tournament since 1988. He lost his tour card in 1994 and is 96th on this year’s money list with nothing better than a 20th-place finish.

Saturday, he birdied the first two holes, and added another at No. 4. After five pars, he birdied No. 10 by rolling in a 15-foot putt to go nine under and picked up another stroke on the par-five 15th after he pitched within a foot of the cup.

Sutherland, who has been to qualifying school three times, including the last two years, had one bogey and seven birdies for a 66 to match Blackmar at 10-under 206.

“I’ve been trying to make pars and I keep making birdies,” he said.

Jerry Kelly was at 207 after a 69.

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Jay Sigel shot a five-under 67 in windy conditions at Hoover, Ala., to take a three-stroke lead over Bob Eastwood after the second round of the Bruno’s Memorial Classic.

Sigel has a nine-under 135 total on the Greystone Country Club course. He has five top-10 finishes in 10 Senior PGA starts this year.

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Kris Tschetter birdied five of seven holes after a storm delay for a one-stroke lead in the Sprint Titleholders Championship at Daytona Beach, Fla.

Just before the siren ended play because of darkness, Tschetter saved par with a 10-foot putt at No. 16 to remain at 14 under par, four under for the third round.

Tammie Green, at 13 under, will have a 10-foot birdie putt on the 16th green when play resumes this morning. Kris Monaghan was at 12 under on the 17th hole.

Nancy Lopez, coming off her 48th LPGA victory last week, shot a 66 and was at 10-under 206.

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Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain, continuing his impressive comeback from crippling foot problems, had a five-under 67 for a one-stroke lead after three rounds in the $760,000 Italian Open at Brescia.