Golf Roundup : Sheehan Up by 2; Inkster Shoots a 64

Defending champion Patty Sheehan shot a one-under-par 71 Sunday to hold off Juli Inkster and take a two-stroke lead heading into the final round of a $200,000 rain-delayed LPGA tournament at Sarasota, Fla.

Sheehan finished the day with a 54-hole total of eight-under-par 208, while Inkster came from nine shots off the pace to pull into a second-place tie with Stephanie Farwig at six-under 210.

Inkster shot a 64 that included six straight birdies--two short of the LPGA tour record--and Farwig shot a 72 highlighted by four birdies and four bogeys on the par-72, 6,124-yard Bent Tree Country Club course.

Sheehan--a 14-time tour winner who is trying become the first player to win this 11-year-old event twice--said the heavy rain that forced officials to suspend play Saturday before about half the field had teed off affected her concentration.

“It was a little difficult getting myself motivated because of the delay,” said Sheehan, whose round included three birdies and two bogeys.

Leading wire-to-wire, Charlie Owens shot a three-under-par 69 to win a seniors tournament at Fort Pierce, Fla.

Owens recorded his first Senior PGA Tour win with a three-round 54-hole 202, 14 under par. Following Owens were Don January and Lee Elder, who each finished at 205, 11 under for the three-day event.

The best round of the day belonged to Elder, who shot an eight-under-par 64. On the front nine, Elder had six consecutive birdies beginning on the first hole.