GOLF ROUNDUP : Dent Shoots 68 to Take a 3-Stroke Lead

Jim Dent shot a three-under-par 68 on Saturday for a three-stroke lead over Frank Beard after the second round of the Senior PGA Tour’s $400,000 Royal Caribbean golf tournament at Key Biscayne, Fla.

Dent had four birdies and one bogey to finish 36 holes at eight-under-par 134.

Dent, one of the longest hitters in golf, said his putting and short game have improved.

“I never won because I never worked on the things you need to do to win--chipping and putting,” Dent said. “But now I spend about 85% of my practice time on my short game and it’s better than it’s ever been.”

Dent, who won two Senior PGA Tour events last year, said he likes his chances for the $60,000 winner’s purse today.

“I’m right where I want to be, on top,” he said. “I’ll be happy if I shoot a 69 tomorrow. If I get on top of it and keep hitting it like I did today, I’ll be in good shape.”

Bruce Devlin, Al Geiberger, Lee Trevino, Bruce Crampton and Jim Ferree were four back at at 138.

Devlin had a hole in one on the 151-yard eighth hole, but also had two double-bogeys and shot a 74. Geiberger and Trevino matched Chick Evans for the day’s best round, a 67.

Pat Bradley, who went 44 holes without a bogey, had five of them in the last 10 holes and watched a commanding lead shrink to five shots over Dottie Mochrie after three rounds of a $300,000 LPGA tournament at Lake Worth, Fla.

Bradley, who shot 66 and 65 the first two rounds and had an 11-stroke lead at one point of the third round, shot a two-over par 74 for a 54-hole total of 205.

Mochrie shot a 67 that left her at 210, one shot ahead of Colleen Walker, Sue Thomas and Laurel Kean.