
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, August 1, 1993                   TAG: 9308010175
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CANTON, MASS.                                LENGTH: Medium

ANDREWS IN LINE FOR 1ST TITLE

Donna Andrews, who just missed her first LPGA victory in the U.S. Women's Open, shot 6-under-par 66 Saturday to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds of the Ping-Welch's Championship.

Andrews, from Lynchburg, Va., used just 26 putts and stretched her streak of bogey-free holes to 35. She finished at 11-under 205 after starting the third round three strokes behind leader Helen Alfredsson of Sweden.

Alfredsson, Stefania Croce, Val Skinner and Missie Berteotti were tied for second at 208, two strokes ahead of Pat Bradley, Dottie Mochrie and Danielle Ammaccapane.

Andrews needed just the first five holes to turn a three-stroke deficit into a two-stroke lead, making three birdies while Alfredsson bogeyed three of the first four holes.

Andrews tied Alfredsson for second on July 25 in the Open, finishing one stroke back of Lauri Merten.

Since Andrews bogeyed the 417-yard first hole in Friday's second round, she's had 11 birdies and 24 pars on the 6,137-yard, par-72 Blue Hill Country Club course.

Andrews had trouble again on the first hole Saturday but saved par with a 12-foot putt. Then she got rolling with three birdies on the next four holes. Her 18-foot birdie putt at the 390-yard fifth hole gave her a lead she never lost.

She needed just 12 putts on the front nine and made the turn in 4-under 32.

Andrews one-putted the 10th hole for another birdie, then had seven pars before extending her lead to three strokes with a six-foot birdie putt on the 469-yard, par-5 18th hole.

"I stepped right over [my putts] feeling like I could make them," she said. "In fact, I had several that rolled over the hole, so I could have had more birdies."

Andrews, 27th on the LPGA money list this year, played aggressively but was concerned that her approach shots left her between clubs.

While Andrews was breezing through the early holes, Alfredsson was struggling with the lead for the second consecutive tournament.

Alfredsson, who led by two strokes after 54 holes at the Open, had a 72 on Saturday with five birdies and five bogeys. She was among five players at 5-under 211.

"I never got comfortable," Alfredsson said. "There were perfect conditions for low" scores.

Croce and Skinner shot 68 and Berteotti 69, all without a bogey.

by CNB