Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 27, 1994 TAG: 9403270143
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. LENGTH: Medium
But despite the negatives, all three appear primed today to win the first major championship on the 1994 LPGA Tour schedule.
Andrews, who already has won once (March 13 at Tucson, Ariz.), went on a birdie binge to fire a 67 and take a one-stroke lead at 10-under-par 206 on the Mission Hills Dinah Shore Course.
Davies, a victor last Sunday in Phoenix, finished shakily to post a 69 for a 207. McGann, steady as the Coachella Valley sun, put up a 70 to rest at 208.
And Jan Stephenson, despite being out-driven all day by the long-bombing Davies and McGann, remained a contender after shooting 70 for a 209.
"Guess where I'm going," said Andrews, heading for the driving range after she recounted how two chili-dipped wedge shots had tainted an otherwise brilliant round.
Andrews, a 1989 University of North Carolina graduate who broke through with her first LPGA win last Sept. 12 in Portland, Ore., was calm about her prospects today.
"Winning the Dinah Shore would mean a lot to me," said Andrews, 26, who married her part-time caddie, John Reeves, last Nov. 13. "It would be nice to say I've won a major. But I could play real well, shoot 66, and lose to someone with a 63."
She wants a fast start, which shouldn't be a problem. She has played the front nine 9-under and the back side 1-under over 54 holes.
Andrews birdied five holes in a row in one stretch Saturday (Nos. 6 through 10). A bogey on 11 snapped the string.
"My husband said, `You were boring everyone to death. You needed a break,' after I made the bogey," she said.
Andrews had seven birdies against two bogeys.
Davies, 30, who lives in West Byfleet, England, also had seven birdies. But bogeys on Nos. 3 and 13 and a double bogey on 15 distressed her.
"Especially that 15th hole [375-yard par 4]," she said. "I hate that hole. I hate the tee shot, the second shot, the green and the bunkers."
The double came after she bladed a sand wedge shot from one bunker across the green to another bunker.
Davies laughed when asked about an honor she received in 1988. Queen Elizabeth named her a Member of the British Empire.
"I think that means I'm a Dame," she said. "I never wanted to be a Dame. And don't call me Lady. I'm no lady at all. I feel you should do a lot more than hit a golf ball to deserve being a Dame."
McGann, 24, of Singer Island, Fla., would just love to be called the 1994 Dinah Shore champion.
"I'm just going to try to have a good time, like I did [Saturday]," McGann said of her last-round strategy. "I'll be with Donna and Laura, a good group. I just have to pace myself, play within myself."
Stephenson, 42, may have more reasons for wanting the Dinah Shore than anyone outside of Betsy King and Amy Alcott.
A victory would mean Stephenson would complete the modern grand slam - winning all four majors (only Pat Bradley has done it). And it would snap a seven-year drought without a win.
Keywords:
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by CNB